Celebration of Life for Jeanne Simmons

Name: Celebration of Life for Jeanne Simmons
Start: 2025-02-20T16:00:00-06:00
End: 2025-02-20T18:00:00-06:00
Location: All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Service

Schedule

Thu Feb 20 2025 at 04:00 pm to 06:00 pm

UTC-06:00

Location

All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Service | Madison, WI

Please join us to celebrate her life and for some storytelling and refreshments following the event. Please share this with friends and family who loved Jeanne and were part of her Simm's Place Family. Feel free to bring picture boards to share your memories.
Merriel “Jeanne” Simmons (maiden name Haas) was born on July 21, 1936, in Woodman Township, Grant County, Wisconsin. Her father, Kenneth Albert Haas, worked as a carpenter and shoe cobbler, and later at Borden’s milk plant, while her mother, Wanda Lurline Fisher Haas, was a schoolteacher in one-room schools for most of her career. Jeanne and her older sister, Joy (Mulrooney) attended one-room schools through the eighth grade, often with their mother as their teacher. Jeanne graduated from Boscobel High School.
At 23 years old, Jeanne met Maynard Simmons and it was love at first sight! What a setting for them to meet at a wedding she was standing up in that he was attending. Maynard and Jeanne married shortly thereafter. She still loved him dearly after all these years following his passing April 21, 1994, and remained true to him as she said he was the only man for her.
Jeanne danced to the beat of her owner drummer, a loyal, high spirited and colorful presence with her bright red hair, flashy patterned eyeglasses, witty sometimes stinging sense of humor and notable laugh. She was easily spotted in her favorite bright colors—orange and purple--sporting a sock of each color and vibrant non-matching earrings.
Jeanne raised Maynard’s two boys, Dennis (Cindy) Simmons of Madison and Jeff (Andi) Simmons of Lodi, as her own. She was a fun-loving mother and although strict, often broke the rules, having water fights in the kitchen and making breakfast for dinner. They were the center of her world, and she was a wonderful mother to them. With Maynard driving over the road, she kept order and peace at home in his absence.
She was a devoted grandmother to AJ (Alissa) Simmons of Waunakee, Andi (Chris) Miller of Waunakee and Will Simmons of Menominee Falls. She spent countless hours with her troupe of grandkids with regular outings to Prange Way, the movies, and Ella’s Deli. She initiated water balloon fights and loved her yearly Grandma portraits with them. She baked special treats for each of them at Christmas, so each got their favorite sweets. She loved her great grandchildren including Ava an Austin Miller of Waunakee, and Henry and Maddux Simmons of Waunakee. She was blessed to be close to her sister’s children who showered her with much attention and love. Her parents, sister and dear husband Maynard predeceased her.
Jeanne loved her animals. When she wasn’t playing with her pets, you could find her watching a dog show. Tiger was her first prize poodle, followed by Mimi, Jacque, Peaches and Jake (who she swore he could talk!) Huntz, their German Shepherd rounded out the group along with pet rabbits and a collection of stuffed animals and rabbit figurines. She was a die-hard Packer fan and loved to read her murder mysteries. She enjoyed traveling with her niece and they were lucky to experience some wonderful trips together. She enjoyed taking the train to see her friend Cathy in Minnesota. And flashy, fun earrings, oh my, too many to count!
Jeanne worked at the VA Hospital and then at Madison General as a nurse. She also worked at JC Penney and for the City of Madison as a meter maid.
In 1970 Maynard and Jeanne got a liquor license and planned to open “Simm’s Place” in the old gas station on family property across from the main gate of then Oscar Mayer. They hit some roadblocks and finally opened in April of 1972. Together they enjoyed a successful family business, with many loyal customers who became dear friends and part of the bar family that still exists today. 50 cent beers were given to customers during the lockout of 1986 at the plant, checks were cashed on Thursday nights and Friday afternoons, and a basket of fresh hard-boiled eggs was a staple on the bar. Customers were trusted and credit was extended on tabs to be paid weekly on payday. Cursing wasn’t tolerated and if you did, you “paid” into the “F Jar” she kept on the counter. Son Jeff stepped in as the tavern operator to keep the bar running after Maynard passed and son Dennis stepped in to help as well. Thank you to hard-working, loyal staff and customers who kept the bar open longer than anyone every dreamed possible with the sale and eventual shut down of the plant. Jeanne held her post behind the bar holding court and giving free advice, wanted or unwanted, to the day the bar closed. Today son Jeff still says that “Oscar Mayer is in our parking lot”. The family is grateful to the bar family of customers and friends who remain close to them today—you are too big in numbers to name and you, and we know who you are 😊
Her Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, February 20th, 2025 from 4 to 6 PM at All Faiths at 4058 Lien Road, Madison, WI 53704. Friends and Family are encouraged to bring picture boards to share at the event. The family hopes you can join them to share a story and reminisce to honor her memory at Kavanaugh’s Esquire Club at 1025 Sherman Avenue in Madison directly following the visitation at All Faiths… Let Jeanne buy you one last beer, just like she did at Simm’s for so many years.