Jeannine J. Furlin

Jeannine J. Furlin, 64 of Trempealeau, Wisconsin passed away Friday, March 17, 2023. She was born on August 11, 1958 to William and Jacqueline (Varnusson) Winchester.  

Jeannie grew up in Kenosha Wisconsin and graduated high school from Kenosha Bradford in 1976. Jeannie spent 25+ years as a production planner in the pharmaceutical and hospital product industry. Jeannie worked only to support all the passions in her life, which she truly lived for. She lived life to the fullest and always strived to be a part of “monumental moments.” Anyone who knew Jeannie could attest that a monumental moment could have been a grandchild’s first steps to the first bloom

of the spring. For some, these moments could have been pointless but to her, they meant the world!

From the beginning of her life, family meant the world to Jeannie. She was the oldest of four children and never shied away from lending a helping in raising her siblings. As Jeannie, Evie, Phil, and Dooney (Dean) – whom she coined the nickname for grew older, they were as thick as thieves. From recreating the song “God Bless America” –“God Bless an Enema,” to all of the other shenanigans they got into. The four siblings could finish each other’s sentences and no matter how far apart, they were only a phone call away.

Like all of her family, Jeannie was a hard worker who was not afraid to roll her sleeves up and always paid attention to detail-another life motto. After graduating high school, Jeannie started working as a bank teller in downtown Kenosha. This was a job to make ends meet, as sitting still was not an option for her. After three or four years, Jeannie was presented with the opportunity to work for Tri-Clover as a scheduler. This was another detail-oriented job, which she shined in. Tri-Clover also presented her with an opportunity that reshaped everyone’s lives. It was here where she met the love of her life, Jerry DeBell and on September 18 th , 1985 they had a son together, Kyle. Upon starting her relationship and family with Jerry, she also welcomed two more “sons” into her life, John and Bryon DeBell, who were Jerry’s two boys.

Anyone who knows Jeannie is fully aware that family is what she lived for. Jeannie devoted all of her energy to ensuring that anyone around her was left with a positive experience and had an impact on anyone she touched. Whether it was heart-to-heart advice to John, or teaching Bryon how to drive a stick shift (They were driving together and Bryon mentioned he didn’t know how to drive a stick. She then pulled over and told him “you’re going to learn today” which may have led to his need for speed and racing drag cars), to making sure that Kyle was raised with every opportunity that she could provide. She never missed an opportunity to be with family and they always came first. There wasn’t a summer where Jeannie, Jerry and Kyle didn’t go on a family vacation. Whether it was staying in “the cabin from hell” in northern Wisconsin, to a cruise in the Caribbean. As her and Evie would say, we’re “roughin it in style!”

Her love for the family had no bounds. It didn’t matter what the relationship was, she ensured that everyone was loved. Her true passion though was with her grandchildren. She was an instrumental influence on Josh, Alissa, Tristan, and Trevor’s lives. She made sure that every “monumental moment” was a celebrated occasion for each. Once she found out that Dana and Kyle were to be married, she determined the rest of her life. She decided to retire from work and move to Trempealeau, Wisconsin because she knew they would have children. The biggest “monumental moment” of her life was the day she found out she would be a grandma to Dana and Kyle’s first child. After Ramsey was born, she would have it no other way than to be Ramsey’s provider while Dana and Kyle were at work. “Nee Nee” taught Ramsey how to walk, her first words, and most

other early childhood “monumental moments”. Her passion didn’t end with Ramsey, she was equally excited to learn that she would be a grandma to another baby girl to Sloane. She refused to not carry on the tradition and be the primary caregiver for her. Both girls adored their “Nee Nee” and she was the shining light in their life.

To everyone she knew, Jeannie was the most beautiful flower, cornerstone, cultivator of relationships, grower of endless memories that will blossom for years to come, and became the guardian angel of Sloane.

Jeannie is survived by her partner of 40 years Jerry DeBell; mother Jacqueline Zuhde; sons, Kyle (Dana) DeBell, John (Carolyn) DeBell, and Bryon (Jenny) DeBell; six grandchildren, Ramsey and Sloane DeBell, Josh (Jenna) DeBell, Alissa (Amber) Saldivar, and Tristan and Trevor DeBell; sister, Evie (Jim) Wicks; two brothers, Phil Winchester and Dean (Mary) Winchester; her step-mother, Carolyn Winchester; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, March 24, 2023 at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 401 Main Street, Onalaska. Pastor Scott Skogen will officiate. A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Shirley M. Wright Memorial Library, 11455 Fremont Street, Trempealeau, WI. 54661.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.dickinsonfuneralhomes.com