Jean Catherine Ward

October 22, 1930 — May 2, 2024

Mora

Jean Catherine Ward passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Northern Pines Assisted Living in Pine City at the age of 93.

Jean was born on October 22, 1930 to Walter and Frances (Sauber) Maas in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She attended St. Margaret's High School. She went on to attend two years of college at St. Catherine's in St. Paul. Jean was the oldest of 10 children. She learned responsibility at a young age.

Jean married the love of her life, James (Jim) Ward in September of 1949 at the age of 19. Together they went on to have six children, three boys and three girls, one now deceased. They in turn had 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

She was a busy mother and employee. She had many different careers. She spent time working with her husband in his small business, worked as a key punch operator and even had a stint of work at the St. Paul Armory. Besides her usual activities of running a home with eight busy family members, she mostly enjoyed sewing and quilting, gardening and canning, reading romance novels and volunteering at the church as time allowed. Grandma Jean's chicken and dumplings were legendary.

Jean and Jim were known about town as avid walkers. They went out every day, rain or shine, and walked for miles. They were a striking couple. (Jim was very tall, over 6 feet 4 inches, and Jean was just over 5 feet).

Jean attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church when she lived in Pine City.

Jean is survived by her children Mary Ward of Miami, Florida, Joseph (Annette) Ward of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Mike Ward of Tennessee, Sheila Ward of Shakopee, John Ward of Ramona, South Dakota; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; siblings Frank (Kathy) Maas of Wisconsin, Walter (Hettie) Maas of Finlayson, Maria Maas of Mora, Gloria Maas of St. Paul.

She was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Frances Maas; husband James Ward; daughter Margaret Ward; three grandchildren; siblings Alice Langer, George (Karen) Maas, Irene Maas.

Monsignor Aleksander Suchan will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial for Jean: 10:30 AM; Friday, May 17, 2024, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pine City. A time of visitation is planned one hour prior to the Mass in the St. Anthony commons area of the church. Lunch will follow the Mass. The interment will take place at Brook Park Cemetery following the lunch.

Memorials in Jean's memory may be directed to:

St. Clare Living Community of Mora

110 7th Street

Mora, MN 55051

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City ~ Swanson Chapel
www.FuneralAndCremationService.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jean Catherine Ward, please visit our flower store.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, May 17, 2024

9:30 - 10:30 am (Central time)

Saint Anthony Commons - Immaculate Conception Church

555 8th St SW, Pine City, MN 55063

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