Arlene R. Jordan
Arlene R. Jordan
Arlene R. Jordan, age 93, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2016 under the care of Aspirus Comfort and Hospice Services at Copperleaf Assisted Living in Weston. Arlene was born in Baraboo, Wisconsin, the only child of Roy and Olga Thuerer on March 13, 1922.She graduated from Baraboo High School class of 1939, and went on to attend Groves Barnhart Business College in Madison, Wisconsin. Arlene worked at Ray-O-Vac and Badger Ordnance before enlisting in the United States Coast Guard in 1941. She served her country for 3 years stationed in Charleston, South Carolina. While stationed in Charleston, Arlene met the love of her life on a blind date on Christmas Eve, 1943 and married "that Navy man" Don Jordan March 6, 1944 in Charleston. After her discharge from the Coast Guard, Arlene and Don moved back to Baraboo where they made their home and raised their 5 children. Arlene spent many years as a homemaker before working part-time at Smith Outdoor Advertising for 1 years as the bookkeeper and over 20 years in the proof department of the Baraboo National Bank. After Arlene retired from the bank she worked for Darrow's Supermarket for 5 years as the "Demo Lady," and also volunteered at the Circus World Museum. Arlene will always be remembered for her many talents and interests. She was an accomplished seamstress, making the majority of her children's clothing. She was also known for her beautiful knitting, cross-stitch, and applique work that many of her friends and family received as gifts. Arlene had many wonderful friends and enjoyed having breakfast with "the bank girls" most Saturday mornings. Arlene could play a mean game of bridge and enjoyed her ladies bridge club for many years with lunch and cards at The Farm Kitchen. After Arlene retired, she spent many years pursuing her love of traveling. She experienced many wonderful tours of Europe and throughout the United States sharing the experience with several of her friends. Arlene's travels would then be shared by all through her magnet collection that adorned her refrigerator. Above all, Arlene's greatest pleasure was her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Arlene and her Mom "Ollie" held Grandma Camp each summer entertaining the grandchildren at Devil's Lake, Wisconsin Dells and activities around Baraboo. Arlene is survived by one daughter, Sue (Dan) Leider; seven grandchildren, Amy (Tom) Olejnik, Micca Leider, Meagan (Omar) Madrid, Kyle Merrick, Allison Campbell, Annie (Jonathan) Miller, and Tim (Katarina) Campbell; nine great-grandchildren, Claire Olejnik, Ty Olejnik, Maggie Olejnik, Xavier Madrid, Liliana Madrid, Vivian Madrid, Kayley Miller, Jackson Miller and Emma Leider-Bilda, and many nieces, nephews, and other family members. Arlene was preceded in death by her husband, Don; three daughters, Judy (Joe) Griffin, Jane (Scott) Campbell, Margie (John) Merrick, and one son, Dan. A celebration of Arlene's life will be held at 12:00, noon at Redlin Funeral Home, 401 Madison Ave. in Baraboo on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Following the service burial with military rites will be held at Walnut Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 until the time of the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Wisconsin, the Alzheimer's Association or a charity of your choice.The family would like to thank the kind compassionate staff at Copperleaf Assisted Living in Weston and the Apsirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services for the wonderful care shown Arlene.