Jeanne Allison Wolken-Orstad, 58
Jeanne Allison Wolken-Orstad, 58, of Gilman, IA died on Sunday, June 21, 2020, at her home of natural causes.
Funeral services for Jeanne will take place Friday, June 26 at 10:00 A.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. The visitation will be Thursday, June 25 from 5:00-7:00 P.M., where attendees are encouraged to wear Iowa State gear. Memorials may be directed to the family for the Tricia M. Loney endowed scholarship fund at MCC. For additional questions or to leave a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.
Jeanne was born February 8, 1962, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the daughter of Roger Kent and Roberta (Allison) Loney. Raised and educated in the area of her birth, she graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1980 and was active in the early years of girls’ athletics at MHS. After high school, she studied music at Northeast Missouri State.
Jeanne was united in marriage to Gary Orstad on June 4, 2005, at Laurel United Methodist Church.
She was locally known as “The Balloon Lady” as owner of the Balloon Boutique downtown for 25 years. Later, her love of people led her to waitressing and she was last employed at the Sunrise Cafe in Le Grand. She was an active member of Laurel United Methodist Church, Chapter BB of P.E.O. and the VFW Women’s Auxiliary. She was very involved as co-chair for Relay 4 Life and an advocate for the American Cancer Society. She also taught Sunday school for many years and directed the interpretive choir at First Congregational Church.
Jeanne’s family would describe her as being “one of a kind.” She found great joy in watching her son, Dakotah play sports. In her free time, she enjoyed motorcycle rides and playing sports like slow pitch softball and adult league volleyball. She loved hunting, fishing, camping, reading, piano, NASCAR and Harley-Davidson. She was an avid Iowa State and Vikings fan. Jeanne loved animals and you never knew what pet you’d find at her house.
She is survived by her husband Gary Orstad; her son Dakotah Wolken; step-children Sarah (Anthony) Romano, Sam Orstad and Joe Orstad; seven grandchildren; mother Roberta (John) Olson; father Kent (Carol) Loney; sisters Heather (Chris) Reitenbaugh and Laura (Josh) Gould; step-brothers Jonathan Olson and Eric Olson; nephews Alyx Loney and Christopher Reitenbaugh; niece Kayla Reitenbaugh; and mother-in-law Mary Jeane Orstad.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Dr. Archie and Jeanette Allison; paternal grandparents Harvey and Nira Mae Loney; sister Tricia Loney and father-in-law Dale Orstad.