Jeanne Lande (Nee Gourdoux)

Jeanne Renee Lande (née Gourdoux), of Waukesha, formerly of Lodge Grass, MT died on Monday, April 30, 2012 at AngelsGrace Hospice in Oconomowoc, WI at the age of 68. Jeanne was born June 17, 1943, in Denver, Colorado, the first of 6 children of the late Vincent and Vivian (nee Roberts) Gourdoux. Jeanne was raised in Pewaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from Waukesha High School, with scholastic honors, in the Class of 1961. In the following years she had the opportunity to travel through many of our western states and lived in 5 of them: Colorado, Montana, Utah, Idaho and Alaska. From Alaska she returned to the Treasure State, Montana, where she put down deep roots and lived for the next 45 years. She “treasured” her Montana family and friends. Her late husband, Paul Alvin Lande, Sr., was born and raised in Montana, as were his three children, Linda (Mark) Smith of Boise, Idaho; Paul, Jr. (Barbara) of Billings, Montana; and Bert (Mary) of Sheridan, Wyoming. Upon marriage to Paul, Jeanne’s family expanded to include his many brothers and sisters, two of whom still live in Montana: Jack Lande and Charles Lande. After living in Missoula for several years, Jeanne and her husband moved to Lodge Grass, where Jeanne became a member of Faith Baptist Church, and expanded her family to include her many loving friends of the congregation. She valued so many very dear friends in the Lodge Grass and Hardin areas, too numerous to name all, but among them Shirley Roth, Judy Murdock, Scott and Judy Jeffers, Hale and Terri Jeffers, Bill and Mary Su Redfield, Raymond Smith, Bob Bond, and Ramona Bond, who was not Jeanne’s sister-by-birth, was Jeanne’s sister-by-heart. Jeanne’s circle of friends further expanded to include her dear friends Verne and Penny Wagenaar of Hardin, Pastor Devon and Jennie Dawson of Lodge Grass, and Karl and Louise Moosbrugger of Billings. After more than 15 years of service, Jeanne retired from Big Horn County Electric Cooperative, where she had been employed as Office Manager. In that position she coordinated the necessary steps to provide electric power to customers in a three state area, as well as manage and/or communicate with linemen, office staff, state and federal regulatory commissions, customers and power suppliers. Both management and the Board of Directors soon learned to appreciate and rely on her commendable work ethic, mathematical aptitude, excellent record keeping, customer relations skills and human resource expertise. Jeanne’s circle of family and friends increased with the birth of each of her eight grandchildren: Jeremy (Victoria) Smith, Joshua (Jeannette) Smith, Kimberly (John) Fink, Chris Lande, Mike Lande, Melissa (Brandon) Rich and Toni Lande. And here I must mention Jeanne’s “former-step-granddaughter-in-law,” Jamie Lande, who loved and was loved by Jeanne as an actual granddaughter. In time Jeanne was blessed with fourteen great grandchildren: Mia Cincello-Smith, Kayla Lanktree, Allysa Lanktree, Tiffany Dotson, William Fink, Chase Fink, Madison Fink, Elizabeth Lande, Zack Lande, Michelle Lande, Isaiah Lande, Ian Rich, Erica Rich and Aidan Rich. Though she would miss her Montana family and friends, we were very happy to welcome Jeanne back to Wisconsin last fall, so we could enjoy time with our big sister before she was called to join the Lord. We, her family, thank you for joining us, not to mourn her death but to celebrate her life. She is loved and will be missed by her brothers an sisters, Jim Gourdoux (Ingrid Morris) of Los Alamos, New Mexico; Lou Ann (Mike) Newman of Waukesha, Wisconsin; Buzz (Linda) Gourdoux of Dousman, Wisconsin, Mary (Larry) Lamp of Waukesha, Wisconsin; and Margy (Rick) Pearson of Troy, Wisconsin; along with nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, one great-great niece and one great-great nephew other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 9:30AM until the 11:00AM funeral service at Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Avenue, Waukesha. Burial will immediately follow at North Prairie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the following or a charity of your choice: Faith Baptist Church, P.O. Box 501, Lodge Grass, MT 59050; AngelsGrace Hospice, W359 N7430 Brown Street Oconomowoc, WI 53066; or the American Cancer Society, N19W24350 Riverwood Drive, Waukesha, WI 53188. For further information, please call Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning Services at 262-547-4035 or go to www.waukeshafunerals.com for directions or to leave the family an online tribute message.