Jean Jacobson Paluch

Stoughton- Jean Ann Heggestad was born on June 26, 1933 in her parents farmhouse located between Edgerton and Stoughton. Her aunt Emma delivered her.

Jean’s father, Arthur Heggestad, was a farmer. He died at the age of 39 from pneumonia when Jean was 2.5 years old. Jean’s mother was Elma Anderson Heggestad. After Arthur died in 1936, Elma moved the family from the farm to Stoughton. Her mom died in 1990 at the age of 90.

Jean attended Stoughton Eastside Grade school and graduated from Stoughton High School in 1951.

Jean met Richard Jacobson in 1954. On October 8, 1955 they were united in marriage and were together for more than 35 years.

Jean worked at Uniroyal in Stoughton doing Payroll, Accounting and Computers for 34 years. She started when she was 20 years old and retired in 1987. Jean later worked for about 10 years as a housekeeper at The Holiday Inn in the WI Dells.

In 1961, Jean and Richard agreed to raise four of Richard’s nephews upon the untimely death of their mother. All four boys went into the US Navy following high school graduation. Three of the four stepson’s married and had children. They all affectionately call her Gramma. Richard died February 9, 1991.

Jean married Frank Paluch in 1994 and moved to Oxford, then to Florida as “snowbirds.” In 2002 they sold their home in Oxford and became Florida residents.

Over the years, Jean did a lot of traveling including Bahamas, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Illinois, Jamaica, and Canada. She also traveled to Mexico twice- once with Richard and once with Frank. Jean enjoyed crafts, bingo, gambling in Las Vegas and Prairie du Chien, and horse racing in Arlington Heights, IL. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, in her prime she did three daily newspaper crossword puzzles.

Jean moved back to Stoughton when Frank died in 2010 and enjoyed her retirement. She was an avid sports fan, especially cheering on the Packers, Cubs, Brewers, Bucks, and all UW Sports.

In May 2019 Jean got her first smartphone. She had fun learning how to use it and loved to share pictures.

Jean is survived by three sons, Gene (Judy) Wedoe, Keith (Linda) Wedoe, and Steven Wedoe; grandchildren, Eric (Lindsey) Wedoe, Janelle (Adam) Stuessel, Christine (Brandon) Boettcher, Melissa (Clark) O’Brien, and Ashley (Anthony) Kaid; great grandchildren, Davis Wedoe, Harper Jean Boettcher, Connor, Haley and Madison O’Brien, Haylee and Jaxson Kaid. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard; husband, Frank; son, Dale Wedoe; and siblings.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at Cress Funeral Home in Stoughton. Burial took place in Eastside Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Stoughton Veterans Memorial Park, https://www.stoughtonveteransmemorial.org/donate.

A special thank you to everyone for their thoughts and prayers. Please share your memories of Jean by posting on her Tribute Wall.

Cress Funeral Service

206 W. Prospect Street, PO Box 231, Stoughton

(608) 873-9244