Jane Elizabeth Keyes

Jane Elizabeth Keyes

Jane Elizabeth Keyes

Jane Elizabeth Keyes, 84 of Adams passed away Thursday April 11, 2019. If you drove through Adams – Friendship in the past 25 years you probably saw Jane riding her scooter wearing her floppy sun hat decorated with bright flowers. When people found out she was our mom they would always start out with: Oh that’s your mom? And follow up with: She’s always so happy, or funny, or such a sweetheart, and some short tale of how they knew her.

Jane was born at home in Hancock Wisconsin, the second child of Bud Kaye and and Ruth (Alverson) Kaye. She grew up mostly in Monroe Center and often told us stories about playing down in the creek bottoms before Petenwell Lake was constructed, walking to the one room schoolhouse two miles (seemingly barefoot and uphill both ways) in all kinds of weather, hours spent picking wild berries, mushrooms or asparagus to supplement the family dinners and the many delights of carrying in water and having an outhouse on the hill.

Jane was a graduate from Adams – Friendship High School, and went to work that summer in Wisconsin Dells where she met her first husband, the marriage resulted in one child. She was divorced and met her second husband while living in Necedah and working at the Garment Factory in Mauston. This marriage resulted in two children. Jane was intelligent and fiercely independent; she was also very honest and giving person. She was a Jehovah’s Witness for most of her adult life and even after she became physically disability and the support of the congregation waned she was devoted to those teachings.

Jane was preceded in death by her: Mother – Ruth Alverson, Father – Bud Kaye, Brothers – Dennis and Garth Kaye, and Son – Neil Saunders.

Jane was survived by family members: Brothers, Dale (Sharon) Smith, Wayne (Irene) Kaye, Garth Kaye and Dennis (Vicky) Kaye. Children: Ruth (Hale) Lemmer, Terry Saunders, and Dawn McGhee. Grandchildren Jason (Jamie) Lemmer, Colette Lemmer, Brandon Lemmer and Sarah McGhee. Great Grandchildren: Alex Binger, Corey Lemmer, Logan Lemmer, Landon Taylor, Anndrea Taylor, Ona Lemmer, Lillian Delmore, Lydia Delmore and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to take this opportunity to thank the following: Gundersen Health Systems and staff of the local Gunderson Hospital for showing such professionalism and support to our mom and family and allowing us the opportunity to stay with mom through those important final moments. The staff at Villa Pines Living Center. Dr. Sankaran her general physician and friend for his entire career in Adams. Ron & Lois Kniefel, Leo & Lois Smith, and everyone who helped mom with her scooter trips whether it was getting things off the high shelf at the grocery store, pushing her out of snow banks (she’d go in all kinds of weather), getting her back upright and on her way when she’d tip it, or bringing her home on those first warm days of spring when she’d just go a bit too far and the batteries wouldn’t bring her home.

Services will be at later date.

Bookmark the permalink.

Condolences

  1. Tammy Pieper Larrabee says:

    Dawn and family, my deepest condolences for all. Many prayers, hugs to all.

  2. Carol Schanke says:

    Ruth Anne and Dawn. So sorry to hear about your mom. Remember when you guys lived in Monroe Center. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

  3. Lavonne Scott says:

    Such a beautiful tribute to your Mom. Girls you did well. So sorry.

  4. Everyone at hwy z says:

    Dawn so sorry to her about your mom but now she is keeping an eye on you and Sarah remember all the wonderful things about her

  5. Coral Smith says:

    My sympathy to you, Ruth and Fred and all the family. Thinking of you.

  6. Mary Kate Burgdorff says:

    I will really miss Jane. We rode scooter together and had fun visits .She was a lovely lady!

  7. Julie Buehler and Gary Voboril says:

    I enjoyed reading about your mother. She sounds like a wonderful person. So sorry for your loss. Julie Buehler

    Now that I read about your mother I know why you are such a special person too Dawn. So sorry for your loss. Gary Voboril

  8. Carol Campbell says:

    So sorry for your loss my thoughts an prayers are with you an the family

  9. Lori Ward says:

    Dawn so sorry for your loss, hugs and prayers

  10. Lou Ann Hippe says:

    Dawn and Ruth, So sorry to here about your mom. She surely was a hard working lady, I remember her coming to Good and Plenty to clean and she had lots of words of wisdom, course some of them made me chuckle! Really enjoyed our conversations. Prayers to your family.

  11. Bill and Mary Gruber says:

    Dawn, thinking of you. Your mom was a wonderful person. She will be missed.

  12. Marshall and Sue Bjorge says:

    At this difficult time in your life, we pray that God will grant you the peace that you need to get through this. Sincere condolences!

  13. sandi kotinek says:

    So sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. My sympathy to you and the family members. Hugs.

  14. Joanne Sumpter says:

    Dawn & Ruth; am very sorry to hear about your Mom. She was a special lady & I enjoyed seeing her when she would come into McDonald’s. Hope & prayers are with you both & your families.

  15. Dan and Marcis says:

    Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. You’re mom was a fun lady and I know she will be missed.

  16. Shawna Gruber says:

    Dawn and family so sorry for your loss my Thoughts and prayers are with you

  17. Susan Moran says:

    Ruthanne and Dawn, So sorry to hear about your Mom. She was such a good friend and neighbor to my Mom. Hugs and prayers during this difficult time.

  18. Jay J. says:

    Dawn-we grew up together so I have many memories of spending time with Neil and you, with your mom & mine shooting the breeze for what seemed like hours. Blueberry picking, driving to the lake to swim, we kids in the back of my parents old International pickup with the old boards on it (if i’m remembering it right) & the goofy memory of her that I don’t need to expound on here! She could be fun, that is true! Also can’t forget Ruthie, you always seemed SO much older than me but I guess you really weren’t! And lots of other memories. You’ve been such a faithful & great daughter, your mom was lucky to have you to take care of her for most of her life until close to the end. Know that I’m always only a phone call or email away if you want to talk or visit me or want a visit from me. Always keeping you in my thoughts.

  19. Bev Ward says:

    Dawn – so sorry to hear about your Mom. Prayers are with you during this difficult time.

  20. Kathy Golden says:

    So sorry Dawn and Sarah for the loss of your mother and grandmother. Sounds like she enjoyed herself to the end on her scooter and had many friends.

  21. Judy Kennedy says:

    Oh Dawn…so sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing. You have been a wonderful daughter and care-giver. I will be thinking of you…

  22. Joyce Moore says:

    Dawn, Love to you on the loss of your mom.You have been a wonderful daughter and friend to your mom. I know you will miss her,but you have so many loving memories of her.

  23. Lavonne Scott says:

    So sorry girls. She was so friendly and always out and about. I loved her hat. Rest in peace Jane .

  24. Gordon/Marie Whitemarsh says:

    Our condolences to the family, she was a very nice lady, saw her and talked with her many times over the years while she traveled in her scooter past my place, I will miss seeing her, it is a sad day, she was a great lady! That scooter belongs in the historical society along with that hat, she always had the right of way.

  25. Debbi and Nick Segina says:

    Your mom brought sunshine to a great many people in her smile. Sending thoughts and prayers for comfort and peace.

  26. Jodi Helgeson says:

    I’m glad you mentioned her tooling around town in her scooter with her beautiful hat. It was always good to see her out and about. My sympathy to you all.

  27. Sherrie Manning says:

    Your mom was always friendly and smiling. My thoughts and prayers are for your family.

  28. Betty vondrak person and family says:

    Our deepest sympathy to the family.

  29. Liana says:

    My condolences to your family in loss of your mom. I think we have all experienced your mom some where around town. Yes always friendly and on her way! Thinking of you Ruth, Terry and Dawn.