Obituary for Jean Laux-Jindrich Davis
Jean Laux-Jindrich Davis, 84, of
Ironwood, Mich., passed away on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010, in Wausau. She was
surrounded by loving children at the time of her death. In her final week of
life, she continued to exude love and compassion for her family. She is dearly
missed. The former Wilma Jean Laux was born June 30,
1926, in Le Mars, Iowa. One of five daughters of the late Wilbur and Amy
(Tupper) Laux, she graduated from Le Mars High School in 1944 and moved to
Chicago to work at a civil service job. She then attended the University of
Northern Iowa in Cedar Rapids for two years as an art and English
student. There she met her first husband, Jack Jindrich, and they were married
on August 25, 1947 at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars. Jean and Jack's life together began in
Swaledale, Iowa where her first children were born. Soon thereafter, Jack was
offered a job with Sears-Roebuck Co. and their travels took them to Waterloo,
Iowa, Oshkosh, Minneapolis, Mason City and Fort Dodge, Iowa, before arriving in
Ironwood in December 1962. Jean became a long time resident of Ironwood and she
cherished her adopted home. They chose not to relocate once she, her husband,
seven children, with the youngest soon to be born, established themselves at 418
N. Lowell St.. Her first years in Ironwood were focused on her large family.
Jean and Jack joined St. Ambrose parish and initially the children attended
catholic school. As such, the family was very involved with Ironwood's catholic
community. After working with Sears and Roebuck of
Ironwood for six years, Jean and Jack decided to turn down a Sears assignment in
Chicago and purchase a local business. In 1968 they bought the Indianhead Motel
on U.S.2. The family lived temporarily next to the motel but eventually moved
back to the turn of the century home they had grown to love. When Jack passed in
1991, the motel was sold and Jean continued to live at the Lowell St. home for
some time. Jean spent many years caring for her children,
working alongside her husband at the motel, and eventually working for five
years in physical therapy at the Grand View Hospital. Extremely active in volunteer work, she was a member of the Grand
View Hospital Auxiliary and a charter member of the Sweet Adelines, a group of
women with whom she enjoyed performing acappella music. She and her second
husband, Joe Davis, worked diligently to pass referendums in favor of building
new schools in Ironwood. The most beloved of her volunteerism efforts
focused on the formation of the Ironwood Historical Society where she served as
president of the organization for ten of its first 12 years. Due to Jean's and
other's inspired efforts, the Depot benefited from major renovations which
eventually led to a dynamic facility preserving an important piece of Ironwood's
history. However, once established, she recognized the Depot's space limitations
and spearheaded efforts to use the Memorial Building as a satellite location for
more expansive historical exhibits. These exhibits gave voice not only to
Ironwood's story but the collective history of the Gogebic Range. Jean believed
that we were one Range community, not simply a collection of small towns. Many
of these accomplishments can be attributed to the hours she spent engaged in
thought provoking conversation at the Pine Tree Studio. There she found great
inspiration and joy. Jean was a painter, a lover of music who
danced and sang in her youth, and read widely and enthusiastically until her
passing. Politics fascinated Jean and she never passed up an opportunity to
engage in political dialogue. Jean was grateful to have traveled to Spain in the
late 1970's. That experience led her to pursue further trips to France, the
Netherlands, Canada, and Costa Rica. On Valentine's Day, Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, she
was married to Joe Davis at the First Presbyterian Church in Ironwood. Once
married, everything was "tickety boo." Joe was a wonderful addition to our
family. Joe, Jean and family had nine years of friendship and love before his
death on Sept. 2, 2008. Remaining family members include Mark Jindrich
(Emily Newhouse), Calumet, Mich., Joan (Dennis) Oja, Carol (Tom) Herfort, and
Linda Jindrich (Morgan Grasso), all of Ironwood, Joe Jindrich Jr., Clinton,
Montana, Ted (Gail) Jindrich, Chicago, Lisa Jindrich (Jerome Wilson), Wausau,
and Mary Jindrich, Longmont, Colo.; 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, with
one on the way; a sister, Margaret (Rudy) Adler, Le Mars; and numerous nieces,
nephews, and brothers-and-sisters-in-law. In addition to her parents and husbands, Jean
was preceded in death by a son, Gregory James Jindrich, in 1951; a grandson,
Justin Oja, in 1992; three sisters, Gladys Carrico, Dorothy Bartels, and Helen
Murray; and her niece, Donna Miller, who was raised as her sister. A celebration
of Jean's life will be held Thursday, Jan. 6, at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral
Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. and a
Celebratory Service will commence at 11 a.m. Luncheon will follow at Manny's in
Ironwood. Jean's remains were cremated. Interment will
occur at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the
Ironwood Historical Society, 150 N. Lowell St., Ironwood, Mich.
49938. To view Jean's obituary online, sign the
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.
Ironwood, Mich., passed away on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010, in Wausau. She was
surrounded by loving children at the time of her death. In her final week of
life, she continued to exude love and compassion for her family. She is dearly
missed. The former Wilma Jean Laux was born June 30,
1926, in Le Mars, Iowa. One of five daughters of the late Wilbur and Amy
(Tupper) Laux, she graduated from Le Mars High School in 1944 and moved to
Chicago to work at a civil service job. She then attended the University of
Northern Iowa in Cedar Rapids for two years as an art and English
student. There she met her first husband, Jack Jindrich, and they were married
on August 25, 1947 at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars. Jean and Jack's life together began in
Swaledale, Iowa where her first children were born. Soon thereafter, Jack was
offered a job with Sears-Roebuck Co. and their travels took them to Waterloo,
Iowa, Oshkosh, Minneapolis, Mason City and Fort Dodge, Iowa, before arriving in
Ironwood in December 1962. Jean became a long time resident of Ironwood and she
cherished her adopted home. They chose not to relocate once she, her husband,
seven children, with the youngest soon to be born, established themselves at 418
N. Lowell St.. Her first years in Ironwood were focused on her large family.
Jean and Jack joined St. Ambrose parish and initially the children attended
catholic school. As such, the family was very involved with Ironwood's catholic
community. After working with Sears and Roebuck of
Ironwood for six years, Jean and Jack decided to turn down a Sears assignment in
Chicago and purchase a local business. In 1968 they bought the Indianhead Motel
on U.S.2. The family lived temporarily next to the motel but eventually moved
back to the turn of the century home they had grown to love. When Jack passed in
1991, the motel was sold and Jean continued to live at the Lowell St. home for
some time. Jean spent many years caring for her children,
working alongside her husband at the motel, and eventually working for five
years in physical therapy at the Grand View Hospital. Extremely active in volunteer work, she was a member of the Grand
View Hospital Auxiliary and a charter member of the Sweet Adelines, a group of
women with whom she enjoyed performing acappella music. She and her second
husband, Joe Davis, worked diligently to pass referendums in favor of building
new schools in Ironwood. The most beloved of her volunteerism efforts
focused on the formation of the Ironwood Historical Society where she served as
president of the organization for ten of its first 12 years. Due to Jean's and
other's inspired efforts, the Depot benefited from major renovations which
eventually led to a dynamic facility preserving an important piece of Ironwood's
history. However, once established, she recognized the Depot's space limitations
and spearheaded efforts to use the Memorial Building as a satellite location for
more expansive historical exhibits. These exhibits gave voice not only to
Ironwood's story but the collective history of the Gogebic Range. Jean believed
that we were one Range community, not simply a collection of small towns. Many
of these accomplishments can be attributed to the hours she spent engaged in
thought provoking conversation at the Pine Tree Studio. There she found great
inspiration and joy. Jean was a painter, a lover of music who
danced and sang in her youth, and read widely and enthusiastically until her
passing. Politics fascinated Jean and she never passed up an opportunity to
engage in political dialogue. Jean was grateful to have traveled to Spain in the
late 1970's. That experience led her to pursue further trips to France, the
Netherlands, Canada, and Costa Rica. On Valentine's Day, Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, she
was married to Joe Davis at the First Presbyterian Church in Ironwood. Once
married, everything was "tickety boo." Joe was a wonderful addition to our
family. Joe, Jean and family had nine years of friendship and love before his
death on Sept. 2, 2008. Remaining family members include Mark Jindrich
(Emily Newhouse), Calumet, Mich., Joan (Dennis) Oja, Carol (Tom) Herfort, and
Linda Jindrich (Morgan Grasso), all of Ironwood, Joe Jindrich Jr., Clinton,
Montana, Ted (Gail) Jindrich, Chicago, Lisa Jindrich (Jerome Wilson), Wausau,
and Mary Jindrich, Longmont, Colo.; 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, with
one on the way; a sister, Margaret (Rudy) Adler, Le Mars; and numerous nieces,
nephews, and brothers-and-sisters-in-law. In addition to her parents and husbands, Jean
was preceded in death by a son, Gregory James Jindrich, in 1951; a grandson,
Justin Oja, in 1992; three sisters, Gladys Carrico, Dorothy Bartels, and Helen
Murray; and her niece, Donna Miller, who was raised as her sister. A celebration
of Jean's life will be held Thursday, Jan. 6, at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral
Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. and a
Celebratory Service will commence at 11 a.m. Luncheon will follow at Manny's in
Ironwood. Jean's remains were cremated. Interment will
occur at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the
Ironwood Historical Society, 150 N. Lowell St., Ironwood, Mich.
49938. To view Jean's obituary online, sign the
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.