Jane B. Krymkowski

Jane Barbara Krymkowski

12.12.1945 - 3.23.2024

On a beautiful Saturday morning of March, Jane Barbara Krymkowski peacefully went home to the Lord with her daughters at her side.

Jane was a kind and caring person who had a gift of communicating. Mom valued relationships and amazingly kept up with many. She made various moves throughout her life and found it easy to connect with people wherever she went. She shared delightful conversations “in excitement over a book” or laughter “until the tears rolled down our cheeks” as well as the innermost joys and worries of life. She reveled in countless hours of conversation on the phone, gathering with family and friends over coffee or lunch and other means of keeping up with special people she has known throughout the years.

Mom loved her family and extended family. Our visits brought her great pleasure to have us in her home. She would decorate to make holidays special, made sure we had sufficient “treats” and loved to give gifts! Mom always found an occasion to shower her family with surprises. She delighted in discovering a bargain which likely fulfilled her irresistible urge to shop. Shopping with her daughters often brought laughter, especially in the shoe aisle!

Mom’s ability to communicate was manifested in her role as a teacher. She thoroughly enjoyed sharing her passion for literature and the arts with her students and influenced their lives by experiencing books, creative writing, poetry and through the expression of theatre. As a child mom marveled at the “big screen” and held roles in school plays. She eventually went on to assist and direct community and school performances. She was fond of watching classic movies with her family and a trip to the Guthrie Theatre or Milwaukee Symphony was always a highlight in her life.

Jane was born December 12, 1945 to Phyllis (Soderstrom) and Thor Nielsen in Chicago, Illinois. Their family resided in Skokie, IL until the passing of her father when they moved to Cornell, WI. She always held her childhood memories and friends in Skokie dear to her heart. Her move to Cornell brought significant change and new friendships. Jane’s faith in Jesus began as a child and grew significantly as a young mother and wife attending Hope Lutheran Church in Ladysmith. There she developed a bond with her Women’s Circle and faith which followed her throughout life.

Jane graduated from Cornell High School and Mount Senario College in Ladysmith where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English-Secondary Education. She went on to teach high school English in Weyerhaeuser before moving to South Milwaukee where she resided for almost 30 years. Jane taught and developed friendships at Notre Dame High School in Milwaukee, Catholic Central High School in Burlington before retiring as a home-bound teacher in the Cudahy School District. In 2012, she and Al found themselves moving to the Chippewa Falls area to be closer to family and eventually Jane transitioned to La Crosse where she required memory care.

Jane was preceded in death by her father, mother, and her husband Al Krymkowski. She is survived by her two daughters Barbara James Lund (Wallace Jones) and Laurie James Oungst (Troy), 4 grandsons, Evan Oungst, Austin Oungst (Sydney), Justin Lund (Kenzie) and Alex Lund (Megan), her sister Susan Hoel (Howard) and brothers Paul Nielsen and Jeff Nielsen as well as niece, Inez Snyder (Dale) and nephews Alex Hoel (Mary) and Thor Nielsen (Rachael) and her former husband Gene James. She is also survived by her spirited little yorkie, Maisie.

A graveside ceremony will be held at Forest Hill Cemetery in Chippewa Falls on Monday, April 1 at 11am. We will celebrate mom’s life with a reception and lunch at the French Press (2823 London Road in Eau Claire) following her burial. Hulke Family Funeral Home in Eau Claire is assisting with services.

Mom absolutely loved dogs! In lieu of flowers, we believe she would appreciate a contribution in her memory to Bob’s House for Dogs (bobshousefordogs.org) or a humane society of your choice. We are sincerely grateful for the incredible care that Riverside Transitional Care provided mom over the last year and days of her life. Thank you also to our Gundersen Hospice Team for their wonderful assistance.

Friends and family may offer condolences online at www.hulkefamilyfh.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.