Jean Homburg

Jean Harriet Homburg (n�e Rennebohm) was born in LaCrosse, WI, on October 18, 1923. On February 23, 2016, her heart-felt desire to join her beloved husband, Elmer, in heaven was granted as she passed away in her room at Oakwood East in Madison, WI.

An avid Milwaukee Brewers fan, Jean said her lifetime love for baseball began with watching many fondly remembered softball games with her Grandfather Krause. Her parents, Alwin and Elsie Rennebohm, owned and operated the grocery store attached to the house in which she and her brother, John, grew up. She and John used to deliver the smaller grocery orders on their bicycles. When the orders were too large, their father did the deliveries. Jean had polio as a young girl, but she recovered well and enjoyed a very active lifestyle for many years.
Jean attended Hogan Elementary School (just a block from her home) through the sixth grade, parochial school for seventh and eighth grades, and LaCrosse Central High School through graduation. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Education from Wisconsin State Teachers College in LaCrosse. While pursuing her Masters Degree at the UW Madison, she met her dear Elmer and within three months they were engaged to be married. They never came to an agreement as to who proposed to whom, but always agreed the important thing was that it happened.

Jean and her new husband were both employed at East High School until their first child was on the way. Then Jean had to resign because, in those days, pregnant women were not allowed to teach school. They were married very happily for 63 years. Elmer said, "Jean did a hell of a job raising four kids", but Jean always insisted it was a joint effort. The four children are united in believing both of them were the best parents any four children ever had.
Jean was an amazingly hospitable hostess and worked hard to ensure that visitors to the Homburg home always felt welcome. Thanks to her very green thumb, a plethora of plants and flowers beautified the house and yard. Guests, as well as family, enjoyed Jean's delicious cooking and tempting baked goods--- especially her incredibly addictive popcorn. Jean always considered being a good wife and mother to be her first priority and put off working outside the home while the children were young. To stretch the family's grocery budget, she and Elmer spent many hours canning and freezing much of the produce grown in Elmer's garden and orchard. Once the children were old enough, she also worked outside the home. She enjoyed teaching and was in high demand as a substitute teacher with Madison Public Schools. Once she and Elmer retired, they enjoyed visiting the four kids and their grandchildren (in all 4 U.S. time zones) and traveling internationally as well.
Membership at Bethel Lutheran Church was an important part of her life and she taught Sunday school there for many years. When she was no longer able to attend services in person, she was grateful for, and faithfully watched, the televised services.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alwin and Elsie Rennebohm, her brother, Dr. John Rennebohm, and her beloved husband, Elmer Homburg. She is survived by her children Dr. Nancy Homburg, Dr. Robert (Judy) Homburg, Jane (Don) Moody, and Shirley (Charles) Miller, CPA, and her grandchildren Emily Sportsman (David Schultz), Janelle Homburg, Kristin Homburg Harris (Matthew Harris), and Matt Homburg, Sarah (Justin) Eldred, Abigail, Joy, and David Moody, and Stephanie Miller, and her great grandchildren Elijah and Felicity Eldred and Elinor and Julian Schultz.

A memorial service will be held at Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge, Tree of Life Chapel on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 2:00 pm with Chaplain Wayne Shannon officaing. A time to gather will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at the Tree of Life Chapel from 1:00 pm until the time of services. The family wishes to thank the staff at Oakwood and Senior Helpers for the exceptional care they so lovingly provided for Jean. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Ave, Madison, WI 53703 or Oakwood Foundation, 6201 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53705.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services
3325 East Washington Ave., Madison
608-249-6666