Virginia “Jean” Kathryn Mathson

October 3, 1925 - October 23, 2020

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Krause Funeral Home Brookfield

21600 West Capitol Drive

Brookfield, WI 53072

Friday 10/30, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Arlington Park Cemetery

4141 South 27th Street

Greenfield, WI 53221

In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to The Women’s Center of Waukesha.

On Friday, October 23, 2020, Virginia (Jean) Mathson, 95, left this world to join her beloved husband Danny and daughter, Donna, both of whom preceded her in death.

Jean was born to Edmund and Jadwiga Pawlowski on October 3, 1925. She was the 7th of seven children. She grew up on the South side of Milwaukee and was proud of her Polish heritage. She met Danny in 1940 when the two freshmen shared the same homeroom at Pulaski High School. It was just the start of a beautiful love story.

In 1944, Danny enlisted in the Army Air Corps. While he was away she took a job working for MGM. Danny always teased that Jean was hired to make the lion roar. When the war ended, Dan returned home and the two married on June 14, 1947, the date chosen because it was Flag Day.

The next year, their first daughter, Sharon, was born and another daughter, Donna, followed 20 months later. And three years after that, they were blessed with twin boys…Robert and Leslie. The growing family necessitated a larger home; that is when Dan and Jean built in Hales Corners.

Jean was not too keen on the move to the “country.” Although, once she learned to drive, she grew to love her life there. The center of her life were her children and her four grandchildren (Lesley, Lindsay, Amanda, and Leslie). She never apologized for being a stay at home mom and a homemaker. She immersed herself in the community, joining the Hales Corners Women’s Club, the Hales Corners Homemakers, Bridge Club, golf at Whitnall Park, Eastern Star, and the community theater. She was also a volunteer at the Performing Arts Center, where she was recognized for her service.

At the same time, she supported Dan in his endeavor to start his own tool and die business. With success down the road, and the children growing up, Jean and Dan started traveling. Christmases for the family of six were spent at Lauderdale – By the Sea, Florida.

They also went abroad to visit the countries of their heritage, but they always felt the best fun was right here in Wisconsin snowmobiling up north and cruising Lake Michigan on their boat, The Dairyland Drifter.

In 1979, with the “kids” gone, Dan and Jean built one more home in Brookfield, where they lived until last year.

In their 90s, Jean and Dan found great pleasure taking drives around Milwaukee and Hales Corners reminiscing about the old days. People knew them by their signature black Cadillac with the B-17 license plate. Every outing included fine dining at one of Milwaukee’s best restaurants. Mom never forgot her roots, returning frequently to the South side to get “her fix” of Polish food. Polonaise restaurant was her favorite.

While Jean and Dan had hoped to live in their home till the end, health issues necessitated a move to the beautiful Heritage Lake Country Assisted Living in February of this year. After Dan passed in April, Jean was sad. She was anxious to join the love of her life, her soulmate, her protector, her husband of 73 years. She passed peacefully with Sharon and granddaughter, Lesley, holding her hands. The world has lost the most beautiful, gentle, and selfless spirit… our mom.

Visitation at Krause Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin, Friday, October 30, 2020, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Burial at Arlington Park Cemetery to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to The Women’s Center of Waukesha.

Krause Funeral Home Brookfield

21600 West Capitol Drive

Brookfield, WI 53072

Map

Friday 10/30, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Arlington Park Cemetery

4141 South 27th Street

Greenfield, WI 53221

Map

In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to The Women’s Center of Waukesha.

On Friday, October 23, 2020, Virginia (Jean) Mathson, 95, left this world to join her beloved husband Danny and daughter, Donna, both of whom preceded her in death. Jean was born to Edmund and Jadwiga Pawlowski on October 3, 1925. She was the 7th of seven children. She grew up on the South side ofContinue Reading

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Virginia “Jean” Kathryn Mathson

Brookfield

Brown Deer Road

Capitol Drive

New Berlin