Jean Audrey Duerst Tammi age 89 passed away on Monday, February 24, 2025 at the SSM Care Center. She was born on June 4, 1935 to Orville & Hilda Funseth on the home farm in the Primrose Township of rural New Glarus, WI. She was confirmed at Primrose Lutheran Church. She attended New Glarus High School where she met and fell in love with Ronald Duerst. They married on August 4, 1951, living in the New Glarus area for 25 years, raising five children.

Jean had an artistic talent that was very evident in her drawings, paintings and decorating doll cakes. She had drawn the original picture for the Heidi Festival brochure. She was an avid reader, loved solving crossword and Sudoku puzzles, knitting, crocheting and in later years playing games with her siblings and their spouses. Mom loved family gatherings, and we enjoyed her delicious homemade butter horns and rum cakes.

In addition to being our mom, she worked at the New Glarus Bakery for the Matzingers, Spurgeon's in Monroe, and Prange Way of Madison.

Jean married Carl Tammi August 24, 1985 at the Little Brown Church, IA. They resided in Deerfield, WI. After retirement, she volunteered at the Deerfield Elementary School assisting with reading. She was a very patient, kind person. She also volunteered at RSVP knitting hats, scarfs, & mittens for children.

In 2002 they purchased their condo in Verona. Carl died in 2003 and Mom resided there until December 18, 2024 with the help of her devoted family: daughter Marcia, Dean, son Mike & Marilyn and care workers: Brittney, Kristen, Evan, Nancy and Randy. Our deepest appreciation to them for their 5 1/2 years of care for Mom fulfilling her wish to live at home. A special thank you to Dr. Allison Couture for her specialized loving care.

Mom will be truly missed by her family. Survivors include her children:  Kenneth (Micki) Duerst; Tomahawk; Michael (Marilyn) Duerst, Belleville; Marcia (Dean) Schwarz, Sauk City; Kathy (Douglas) Hultine, New Glarus; & William (JuDee) Duerst, Steamboat Springs, CO.

Grandchildren & Great Grands: Jason (Jean) Schneider; Tonya (Bart): Danny, Andrew, Henry Austin; Jessica (Jens) Haensch; Jeremy (Jenna L): Brody, Jenna Duerst; Jacob (Jessica) Ella, Olivia & Elise Kernen; Matthew Duerst; Sutter (Ethan) Howell & soon baby boy!

Mom also loved and is further survived by Carl's family: Sue (Frank) Hilscher: Evan Hilscher, Kellan (Carrissa): Aubrey & Noah Hilscher; Steve (Maria): Melissa, Caleb & Teresa Tammi; Shane (Michele): Josh Tammi; Shantele (Scott): Cheyenne & August Zasada.

Jean is survived by Marlene Funseth, Judy Jacobson and David Duerst. Also, many nieces and nephews.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Ronald Duerst, Carl Tammi, her siblings: Johnny (Elaine) Funseth, Dennis Funseth, Donna (Dave) Field, Bonnie Funseth; in-laws Marlea (Karl) Duerst; Dwight (Sheila) Duerst.

Private family committal service will be held at the Primrose Lutheran Church West Cemetery, Belleville, WI at 10:30 a.m. on April 8th, 2025. We invite family and friends to a celebration of life for Jean on April 8th, 2025, 11:30 a.m. at the Primrose Lutheran Church fellowship hall.

The Zentner-Beal Funeral Home of New Glarus is assisting the family.