Jean “Jeanne” Eischens, of Jordan, passed away on January 24, 2015 at the age of 68. A Gathering of Family and Friends is Wednesday, January 28, 2015 from 3:30 – 7:00 PM with prayers and reflections at 7:00 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, Jordan. Brother Ambrose Eischens will preside. Urn bearers for Jeanne are her godchildren, Jeremy Beuch, Brent Riesgraf and Kelsey Kratz.
It was a beautiful spring day on May 17, 1946 when Raymond and Mildred (Sullivan) Lucas celebrated the birth of their daughter, Jean Marie. She was the oldest of five children and loved growing up in Jordan with her siblings, Peggy, Kenny, Karen and Susie. As a girl Jeanne helped out at her parents’ hardware store. Jeanne attended Jordan High School and graduated in 1964.
After school, Jeanne became a beautician and worked at a hair salon in Richfield for a few years. Soon Jeanne met the love of her life, Wally Eischens. They began dating, and their love grew. Six months later Jeanne and Wally exchanged wedding vows at St. John’s Catholic Church on December 6, 1969. A few years later they were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Sara. She was Jeanne’s pride and joy.
Jeanne eventually got a job doing hair at Valley View in Jordan, and she loved working with the residents there. After that, Jeanne became everyone’s favorite bus driver. She drove bus in Jordan and Shakopee for 40 years. Jeanne loved all of the kids on her routes, and they all loved her back.
In her spare time, Jeanne enjoyed spending time in her flower garden. She was also very big into arts and crafts. She loved building bird houses with her brother Kenny and making garden decorations with Wally. Jeanne and Wally spent their summers at the Cannon Falls Campground where they made many wonderful friends. She loved going to garage sales with her daughter and friends, young and old. Jeanne was very active in Girl Scouts and was a troop leader for many years. Jeanne spent a lot of time volunteering at the Jordan Food Shelf. She was also involved in the Council of Catholic Women through St. John’s.
Jeanne was a loving woman with a kind heart. She was always taking care of others and showing compassion to those in need. During the early morning hours of Saturday, January 24, 2015 Jeanne passed away unexpectedly in her home. She will be deeply missed and remembered always by her husband, Wally Eischens; daughter, Sara (Special Friend, Jeff Kocks) Eischens; siblings, Peggy (Jerry) Beuch, Kenny (Vicki) Lucas, Karen (Steve) Riesgraf, Susie (Steve) Keeley; brothers-in-law, Harold (Katherine) Eischens, Ambrose Eischens; sister-in-law, Ann Eischens; 9 nieces and nephews; 7 great-nieces and nephews; other loving relatives and many friends. Jeanne is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Mildred Lucas.
The Eischens family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation.
