Jeanne Groos Couffer

Jeanne Groos Couffer, age 89, of Lake Geneva, WI passed away on 4/17/18.  The eldest of 4 children, Jeanne was born 5/31/1928, to Harold and Dolores Groos, in Escanaba, MI.  At a young age, Jeanne followed her heart and pursued her love of figure skating. This took her to St Paul, MN, where she developed her skills and ultimately became a skater with the prestigious Ice Follies and travelled across the country with the show for 4 years. Later she taught ice-skating at Michel Kirby’s in River Forest, IL. Even after she was married and had children, she continued to skate and taught skating outside in the winters for over 50 years in Deerfield IL, Brookfield WI, Hartford WI and Williams Bay WI.  Her other true love was her family. She met her husband, Robert, "Bobby" Couffer in Lake Geneva, and they were married 5/30/59. They raised three children Pamela, Julie and Susanne in Brookfield, WI. They later retired to their beloved home in Lake Geneva. They were married over 59 years.  One of her favorite past times was always having her camera ready to take pictures of family, friends, scenery, birds, and all of the activities going on around her.  She has a huge collection of photo albums displaying all of these treasured memories.  Jeanne also loved flowers and for many years enjoyed the fellowship of being a member of the Lake Geneva Garden Club. Jeanne was a wonderful, gracious hostess and enjoyed having extended family and friends visit at their lake home. She was athletic and enjoyed playing tennis, water skiing (while doing her no handed trick moves), ice skating, and snow skiing.  She was a loving wife, a great role model as a mother, and a kind, caring, generous person.  She had a “can do attitude”, and always tried her best at everything she did, and encouraged others to say “I will try Mrs. Couffer”.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Couffer, her parents; Harold and Dolores Groos and 2 of her sisters Marilyn Hough and Lori McCotter.  She is survived by their 3 daughters; Pamela (Mark) Justman of Hoffman Estates IL, Julie (Ron) Stenslie of Osseo MN, Susanne (Peter Pawinski) Zachary of Lake Geneva WI; 4 grandchildren, Taylor Justman of Chicago IL, Riley Justman of Hoffman Estates, Madison Zachary of Lake Geneva WI, Zane Zachary of Lake Geneva WI; 2 great grandchildren, Bentlie Cychner of Lake Geneva WI, Skylin Johnson of Lake Geneva WI; and her youngest sister, Judy Langmack of Hudson, WI.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of life will be held for Jeanne on Friday April 20th, 2018 at 4:00pm in the chapel of Derrick Funeral Home in Lake Geneva, WI.  Friends and family are encouraged to join in the Celebration of Life by sharing a story about Jeanne.  Visitation will be held from 3:00pm until the time of service on Friday. 

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials are requested in Jeanne’s name to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.  A link has been provided below for your convenience. 

The family is grateful to the staff and residents of Ridgestone Village in Delavan for their care and affection for the past 8 years.

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The Derrick Funeral Home of Lake Geneva is more then honored to be assisting Jeanne’s family during their time of need.

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