Jean Reynolds Pooler

Jean Storrs Reynolds Pooler, age 89, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 26, 2021. Surrounded by family until the end, Jean lived a life filled with love, adventure, fun and faith. Growing up in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, the youngest of four daughters, Jean was an active and energetic young girl who was to blossom into a truly beautiful woman…both inside and out. Throughout her life, Jean consistently demonstrated unconditional love, generosity, poise, beauty and grace.

Donald and Esther Reynolds, Jean’s parents, were pillars of Sturgeon Bay and owned a large cherry and apple orchard on the shores of Lake Michigan in Door County. Jean worked at the orchard from a young age…picking apples and cherries, and beginning at age 14, learning to drive a tractor. Throughout her life, Jean loved to garden, swim, sail, and ski. Jean graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in June of 1949. In September, both Jean and her twin sister, Anne, began their college education at Lawrence College in Appleton.

In her first weeks, as a new freshman, Jean met Lawrence George Pooler, a dashing GI Bill Junior hailing from Onalaska, WI. “Larry” was to become her husband of 60 years.

Jean graduated from Lawrence with a double major in Biology and English in June of 1953. Upon graduation, Jean and Anne were treated to a European tour by their parents, after which she took up employment as an English and Biology teacher at Appleton High School.

Jean and Larry were married on June 19, 1954 and have remained in Appleton to this day…over time, becoming completely immersed and invested in the Fox Valley Community. Some of her contributions included leadership roles for Harbor House, Fox Valley Symphony and Stephen Ministry. She loved to socialize with dear and life long friends in activities such as Thursday Lunch Bunch, Fine Arts Club, Bridge Club, and Book Club.

Their first child, Sarah, born in the fall of 1955, was followed in rapid succession by Rebecca, John, Anne and Lisa. Jean was an advocate for all of her children, but fervently for her son, John, born with severe disabilities.

In 1967, Jean began a teaching career at Fox Valley Technical College and advanced her own education by completing a Master’s degree in Psychology. She retired at age 64.

After retirement, Jean spent endless hours at the family lake house on Moshawquit Lake near Gillett, Wisconsin… often recognized by her bobbing swim cap as she swam the shore twice each day. Decades of family memories were made at “the cottage”…and will most assuredly continue long into the future.

Jean is survived by daughters, Sarah Pooler (Evanston, IL), Anne DeWitt (Dean) (Wauwatosa, WI) and Lisa Lesselyong (Mark) (Appleton), granddaughters Laura McCarthy (Dan) and Maggie Lesselyong (Seth), and grandsons, Daniel Dewitt and Calvin Lesselyong, great grandsons, Brennan and Lawrence McCarthy, as well as an abundance of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sisters, and children, Rebecca and John, as well as a beloved granddaughter, ElenaJane Pooler.

A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held for Jean on June 11th, 2021 at 11am at Butte Des Morts Country Club.  Jean was a life long member of 1st United Congregational Church of Christ in Appleton, and Pastor Steven Savides will be officiating the service.

The family would like to thank Home Instead, ThedaCare Hospice as well as Jean’s loving caregivers…all of whom provided endless support and encouragement to Jean and her family.

Memorial Options: Harbor House, John David Pooler Memorial O.T.A Scholarship (FVTC), ElenaJane Foundation for Developmental Trauma (Byline Bank, 820 Church Street, Evanston IL, 60201).