Jean E. Pike, age 81, of Merrill, passed away Sunday, November 22, 2015, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill.
Jean was born May 22, 1934, in Merrill, daughter of Edmund and Emma (Schmidt) Bessey. She married Alfred Pike on July 23, 1955, at the former Emmanuel Lutheran Church, in Doering. He preceded her in death on June 1, 2015. Jean attended grade school at Heller School in the Town of Schley, down the road from her house. She graduated from Merrill High School in 1952. Jean was a homemaker and a childcare provider. She watched 75 children over the course of 50 years. Jean was also an Amway distributor. Jean enjoyed fishing, playing cards, traveling and putting together puzzles. She received two 3rd place awards for puzzle submissions at the county fair, and 1st place and 2nd place awards for puzzle submissions at the state fair. Jean also enjoyed bowling and had many bowling trophies from league bowling. Jean also received two trophies for table presentation and food preparation for the Family Traditions Competition at Pine Crest Nursing Home. Jean enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, family picnics, and Christmas parties.
Survivors include her daughter, Cindy (Robert) Simon of Menomonee Falls; her son, James (Jill) Pike of Antigo; five grandchildren, Sean (Heather) Simon, Norma-Jean (Dan Molzahn) Simon, Amanda (Zachary) Eschenburg, Joshua Pike, and Charlotte Pike; one sister, Diane Doering; one brother, LeRoy (Kate) Bessey; and six sisters-in-law, Joan Bessey, Dorothy Richardson, Eleanor (Eugene) Kreitman, Betty (Richard) Geiss, Shirley (Lane) Foote, and Beverly (Larry) Turpen.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Pike; her infant daughter, Gloria Jean; her parents, Edmund and Emma Bessey; one brother, Duwayne Bessey; three sisters-in-law, Delores Hedtcke, Norma McPartland, and Frances Steinbach; and four brothers-in-law, James Doering, Fred Hedtcke, James McPartland, and Harold Steinbach.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, November 27, 2015, at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Merrill. The Rev. James Weiland will officiate. Burial will take place at Luther Memorial Cemetery, Town of Schley. Visitation will begin at 9:00 A.M. Friday at the church. The Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com