Jean Ann LaCombe

Munising

Jean Ann (Wilcox) LaCombe, passed away peacefully at her home on LaCombe Road, early Saturday morning July 2, 2016. She was born in Detroit Michigan to Ivan Dean Wilcox and Alice Genevieve (Benedict) Wilcox on October 26, 1943 and moved from Garden City Michigan to the Upper Peninsula in 1959 after her parents purchased Beaver Park Bar in Christmas. She graduated from William G. Mather High School in 1961. On August 18, 1962 she married David LaCombe. They had a son, Scott in Munising in 1963 and then moved to Racine Wisconsin where in 1965 they had a daughter Gigi. In 1971 they returned to Munising to raise their children.

Jean Ann worked at Beaver Park Bar with her parents until she became a bus driver for Au train-Onota School District and was also self-employed with her husband in several business ventures over the years. She ended her bus driver career retiring from Munising School District as a custodian having hauled generations of children for over 40 years.

On June 26, 1991 the love of her life, Dave, passed away after a nine-year battle with cancer. After the loss of her husband, she devoted her time to work, travel and her five grandchildren, and not necessarily in that order. She traveled to China, Italy, Hawaii, British Columbia, Cape Cod, New York, Branson, and New Orleans with friends and family. If there was a place to visit within driving distance, Jean Ann was always willing to be the driver.  “Gramma Jean Ann” absolutely loved to spend time with her grandkids, taking them on several trips and very seldom missed a hockey, basketball, football or volleyball game, as well as school plays and band concerts.

Jean Ann was a very talented seamstress, avid knitter, crocheter, and accomplished gardener and shared her knowledge to numerous people throughout her life.  She always had a knitting project in progress, or was sewing something for someone.  Jean Ann had a green thumb for indoor and outdoor gardening, and will be remembered for her beautiful African violets.  In her earlier years, she played first base on her slow pitch softball team and was an accomplished bowler, accumulating many trophies.  She had a competitive spirit when it came to sports.  Jean Ann introduced her grandsons to the game of golf, which she herself played and followed with a passion.

Throughout Jean Ann’s life, she had many friends that were near and dear to her heart.  She shared her love and talents with her family, friends and the community without hesitation and loved to organize and orchestrate with enthusiasm wherever she was needed.  She was involved with 4-H, the garden club, Friends of the Munising Library, Bay Babes Red Hats, the bridge club, Wednesday night ladies golf league, the Munising Class of 1961 committee, Munising Hockey Association, and many other organizations throughout her life.

Jean Ann is survived by her son Scott (Susan) LaCombe, daughter Gigi (Eric) Jackovich, grandchildren, Danielle (Corey) Sickelsmith who is expecting Jean Ann’s first great grandchild, Andrew LaCombe, Whitney LaCombe, Jordan LaCombe, David Renaldi and step grand-daughters Harley and Dallas Jackovich. Also surviving is her brother Robert (Louise) Wilcox, brothers-in-law Tom LaCombe, Dan (Phyllis) LaCombe, and Larry Ulrich, sisters-in-law Diane (John) Popp, Mary Kaye (Tom) Fulcher, Lorraine (Rick) Runsat, Sue (Harold) Anderson and Celeste (Rob) Wiitanen.  “Aunt Jean Ann” will be missed by her many dear nieces and nephews as well.  She was preceded in death by her husband David LaCombe, her parents, mother and father-in-law Henrietta and Arnold (Speck) LaCombe and sisters-in-law Darlene LaCombe and Helen Ulrich.

Visitation will be on August 20, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Munising with a memorial service led by Pastor Sandi Kolder at 12:00 p.m.

Jean Ann’s family would like to thank Northwoods Home Health and Hospice, Dr. Thomas Huffman and nurse Marcy, and the oncology office of Dr. Ross Seimers.