Jeanette Fox

Jeanette Fox was born August 21, 1919, in Wells, Minnesota, to Rose and Herman Paske and died on Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at Prairie Home Hospice in Marshall. Services for Jeanette Fox will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at Rehkamp – Horvath Funeral Home in Marshall. Much of Jeanette's childhood was forged against the backdrop of the Great Depression. One of Jeanette's most vivid childhood memories involved a promise made by a wealthy Wells woman to give Jeanette a single orange. Jeanette waited years for that orange, but it never came. Like many women of that generation, Jeanette's childhood ended at seventeen when she left home to teach country school. Teaching grades one through eight in a one room schoolhouse was perhaps preparation for her role as a mother of six children. The role of mother started after Jeanette's marriage to Roy Fox. At mid twentieth century Jeanette focused on family matters: laundry, sewing, school events and cooking. Among her many duties as the family's medical expert, Jeanette transported Ray to the doctor after he drank kerosene, and Susan to set her broken arm. Jeanette also recovered part of Judie's nose from the yard and hand carried it to the doctor who sewed it back on. Jeanette was an avid fisherwoman and particularly enjoyed family trips to the cabin at Lynn Lake, Manitoba, in search of walleye. One of Jeanette's daily rituals was to work the crossword puzzle in the morning paper (in pen, not pencil) and fill in every last square c-o-r-r-e-c-t-l-y. Jeanette applied those same language skills to Wheel of Fortune. She often amazed her family by solving the puzzle before Vanna turned a single letter. Once her family was grown, Jeanette spent many years volunteering at the Marshall Food Shelf and was recognized for her service in a proclamation signed by Governor Rudy Perpich. She also received the highest award given for volunteerism by the New Ulm diocese of the Catholic Church. True to her Bohemian heritage, Jeanette was a skilled musician. She often entertained family and friends with her singing and piano playing and sang in the Holy Redeemer choir for over thirty years. She also crocheted beautiful afghans which she gave to countless relatives over a period of 40 years. Even in her last years, Jeanette stayed connected with her family, truly enjoying each and every visit. At age 90 Jeanette still attended the annual Breckheimer Croquet Tournament where from her honored chair she greeted relatives from near and far. Even as Jeanette struggled with with dementia in her final years she lived in and sparkled in the moment, especially with her children. Amazingly, Jeanette continued to sing classic songs word for word for word and note for note to very near the end. Jeanette was preceded in death by her husband, Roy, and oldest son, Dave. Jeanette is survived by her children Jim (Christie), Ray (Colleen), Judie (David), Mary, Susan (Lee) and 15 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. Memorials preferred to Prairie Home Hospice of Marshall, 1107 Skyline Cir, Marshall, MN 56258.