Jeanne Marie Gant

Jeanne Marie (Ness) Gant age 95 of New Glarus passed away August 21, 2026 at home surrounded by family. She was born on December 19, 1930 in Monroe Hospital to her parents Mons Isaac and Mabel Eleanora (Bliesner) Ness. 

Jeanne graduated from New Glarus High School in 1948 and was united in marriage with James Charles Gant on February 14, 1952 at the Primrose Lutheran Church. 

Jeanne was immensely creative, loved to sing and made music an integral part of her daily routines. She was a member of many choral groups and choirs. When her family relocated to Washington state during WWII, she performed at numerous United Service Organizations (USO). Throughout her life she sang in Lutheran choirs and was choir director at Calvary Lutheran Church in Beloit. For many years she played the organ for Primrose Lutheran Church and for Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. 

Jeanne loved flower gardens and wildflowers and was a voracious reader, reading everything from histories to mysteries. She enjoyed English literature and British television series, was a life-long learner taking numerous adult education courses that included German language, pottery, and painting, and she was an avid knitter who invented many of her own patterns. She owned a business in New Glarus known as Jeknits, sold knitting machines, and was a renowned knitting instructor. She knit countless baby booties, baptismal outfits, dolls, scarves, sock caps, sweaters, Christmas stockings, and afghans, generously donating to worthy causes or freely giving her creations as gifts. 

Jeanne loved her Norwegian heritage and was honored to be invited to knit a pair of traditional Norwegian stockings for display in Little Norway, Mount Horeb. Perhaps her greatest pleasure was to be with family and friends and as the Norwegians used to say, "Shake the hand and laugh a little," which for her meant to settle in for an exchange of stories while enjoying a good cup of coffee and a cookie. 

Her last words to us were, "It's good to have kids."

Jeanne is survived by son and daughter-in-law James Jay & Beth Ellen (Tronnes) Gant; daughter Laurie Jean Gant; son David Mons Gant; grandson and granddaughter-in-law Jayson Mons & Elizabeth Ann Branney-Gant; granddaughters Erin Joy Gant and Jill Marie Gant; great -grandchildren Audrey Marie, James Owen, Ava Jean, Emma Elizabeth Denise, and Patrick Jayson Mons Gant.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister Ruth Marion Ness; and brother and sister-in-law Halvor Bliesner "Bud" & Iva (Weatherbee) Ness.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 506 12th Ave., New Glarus, WI with Pastor Erich Hartenberger officiating. Inurnment of Jeanne's and Jim's cremains will follow at the West Primrose Cemetery, rural Belleville.

A gathering of relatives and friends will precede the memorial service from 10:30 a.m. until time of services on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in New Glarus.

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