Jeanne Sandra Holstad

Memorial services for Jeanne Holstad, age 69 will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23, 2013 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home.  Rev. Tom Biatek will officiate.  Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, March 22, 2013 at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at Bayview.  
Jeanne died Sunday, March 17, 2013 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Albert Lea, MN.  
Jeanne Sandra Holstad was born on September 4, 1943 to Helmer and Mildred (McCloskey) Nielsen in Albert Lea, MN.  She grew up in Lake Mills, IA and Emmons, MN and graduated from Emmons High School in 1961.  After graduating Jeanne worked as a teller in various banks in Emmons, the Twin Cities and Albert Lea, MN.  On June 11, 1966 Jeanne was united in marriage to Harold Holstad at the Methodist Church in Lake Mills, IA.  Jeanne then began to work as a substitute cook at the Albert Lea school district and eventually became head cook at Halvorson School.  She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Albert Lea, MN.  Jeanne enjoyed spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking for her family and friends.  She truly had a green thumb when it came to her flower garden.  Jeanne was a very caring woman, she loved to laugh and always put others first.  She loved spending time with her family and especially being “silly grandma” to her two grandchildren.  
Survivors include her husband Harold “Harry” Holstad of Albert Lea; daughters Kim (Brad) Skaro of Brooklyn Park, MN and Susan (Steven) Bybee of Gretna, LA; granddaughters Elizabeth Jean and Ashley Lee Bybee; sister Joann (Vernon) Groe of Door County, WI and many nieces, nephews and brothers and sisters-in-law.  
Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents; brother Jim Nielsen and brother-in-law Marlin Holstad.