Jean Ann Louisa Den Dekker

Jean Ann Louisa (Yaroch) Den Dekker passed into eternal life in the loving arms of our Dear Lord Jesus on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at the age of 91. Jean was born into a loving Polish-German Catholic family on 8 November 1934, in rural South Randolph, Wisconsin. Jean was the eighth of eleven children born to Boleslaus “Fred” John and Anna Mary Louisa “Lula” (Lentz) Yaroch. Jean attended country school, Randolph Grade School and graduated from Randolph High School in 1952. She remained a lifelong Randolph Blue Rockets fan. After high school, Jean worked at Monarch Range in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, as a stenographer until she was married. During the summers Jean also enjoyed working at the movie theater in Randolph selling tickets. It was there where Jean first saw the love of her life, Tuenis “Tony” Den Dekker, a handsome young man from Cambria, Wisconsin. Jean married her beloved Tony on 22 November 1955 in the Rectory of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lost Lake, Wisconsin. Jean and Tony made their first home together in France, living there for three years while Tony was stationed with the United States Army, making lifelong friendships. After returning home to Wisconsin they made their home in the Sanderson Schoolhouse near Cambria, for the next eight years. Jean enjoyed being a wife, mother and homemaker. She was a member of the Cambria Homemakers Club and enjoyed attending card parties with Tony, and family gatherings on Sundays and holidays with their immediate families. In 1968, Tony felt a calling to serve his country again and he reenlisted in the United States Army. Tony served a tour in Vietnam while Jean bravely cared for their four children in Cambria. Tony was next stationed in Germany. Jean embraced the military lifestyle and was the strong foundation that kept the family grounded as she followed Tony to all of his military assignments with support and anticipation. She enjoyed living in France and Germany and Jean loved to travel! She planned memorable trips for Tony and the family to Paris, Lourdes, Spain, Garmisch, Canada, Hawaii, Berchtesgaden, Munich, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, England, Yugoslavia, Monaco, Rome, Austria and Denmark during Tony's military career. Jean truly was the perfect military wife. She served as the President of the Military Council of Catholic Women, she taught Religious Education, and enjoyed being a Lector in Mass at their Catholic Church. Jean was a member of the NCO Wives Club in France and Germany. Jean began her career in Civil Service as a secretary during her 7 years living in Germany and she retired in June 1997. Jean was a very giving and selfless lady who always put her husband and her children's needs before her own. Jean was the heart and soul of her family. She created a loving home for her family during each of Tony's military assignments. Jean enjoyed scrapbooking, word puzzles, and going to casinos with Tony. She was a member of the Lost Lake Randolph Historical Society. Jean cherished every moment with her husband and her family as she supported her children's and grandchildren's interests, always being their most dedicated fan. Jean had a unique way of changing an obstacle into an opportunity with her positive attitude. She was known for her energetic spirit, always smiling and up for any adventure. Jean was an immaculate housekeeper, excellent cook and baker, and tremendously organized in her home and in the offices where she worked. Jean was filled with sweetness and goodness and she had the most warm and gracious heart. Most importantly Jean had a strong Catholic faith that she devoutly carried throughout her life, also attending daily Mass on her lunch hour while working. One of Jean's most cherished memories was being able to touch the hands of Saint Pope John Paul II at two Papal audiences at the Vatican. How very Blessed Jean's life was! Jean shared a most beautiful love story with her husband Tony. God graciously blessed them with 73 years of devoted love. Together they reached a tremendous milestone celebrating their 70th Wedding Anniversary on 22 November 2025 with a gathering of family in their home. Jean was born with the heart of a Mother, lovingly caring for her younger siblings, nieces and nephews at a young age. She was the dearest and most caring mother with strength and determination to always nurture and protect her children in her vocation of motherhood. Jean was a loving and dedicated grandmother and great-grandmother. Grandma Jean was happiest when she was holding and kissing her baby grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As her grandchildren grew, Jean always enjoyed playing indoor and outdoor games with them and attending their sporting events, high school and military school graduations, and weddings. Jean's legacy is the tremendous gift of motherhood that she shared with everyone she encountered. How very blessed we are by our beloved mother Jean Ann Louisa, a lady with such grace, beauty, faith, strength, wisdom, honor and passion for life. The memory of Jean will forever remain in the lives she touched. Jean will be deeply missed and forever loved and cherished by her husband Tony, her children Debra “Debbie” (Brian) McLaughlin, Anthony “Max” (Michaele) Den Dekker, Linda (Nacho) Blanco, and William “Bill” (Shelly) Den Dekker, her 12 grandchildren, her 23 great-grandchildren, her sister Frances (Nels) Benson, sisters-in-law Jean Toniazzo, Betty (Jerry) Bortz, brother-in-law Carl Den Dekker, several Godchildren, many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Jean is preceded in death by her parents, her parents-in-law William and Elizabeth Den Dekker, her sisters Ethel (Merle) Hatzinger, Nettie (Bernard) Biel, Grace (Dale) Foss, Dorothy (Donald) Krumenacher, Eileen (Robert) Braker, and her brothers Clarence (Mary) Yaroch, Walter Yaroch, Frederick (Darlene) Yaroch and Eugene Yaroch. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in memory of Jean Ann Louisa Den Dekker to the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held beginning at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, 14 April 2026 with a Memorial Service following at 12:00 noon in the Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville/St. Robert, Missouri. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville/St. Robert. In accordance with the wishes of Jean and Tony, the family will have a Funeral Mass for BOTH Jean and Tony together after the passing of Tony. Their Funeral Mass will be held at Annunciation Catholic Church in Fox Lake, Wisconsin with burial following at the Cambria Cemetery, Cambria, Wisconsin.

Jean Ann Louisa Den Dekker

November 8, 1934 - February 17, 2026