Jolene Edell Alexander, 74

Published 10:58 am Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Jolene Edell Alexander, 74, passed away at her home on Nov. 28, 2013.

Alexander

Jolene was born May 23, 1939, in Wakefield, Neb., the daughter of Wilbur and Edell Petersen. She graduated from Wakefield High School in 1957, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of South Dakota in 1961.

On June 25, 1961, she married James E. Alexander, of Fort Dodge, Iowa. They spent 52 wonderful years together and were blessed with two children, Jill and Jay. The time that all four of them spent together was what Jolene loved the most. Over the last 15 years during retirement, Jolene’s best times were either spent traveling with her family or having everyone home for a visit.

Jolene was born to be a nurse and she loved taking care of her patients. Throughout her working years she did all kinds of nursing; from working in the hospital, to public health and finally in long term care where she was Director of Nursing. After retirement, she continued to look after people by delivering “Meals on Wheels” and as hospice volunteer for the Mayo Clinic Health System.

Jolene was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and the P.E.O. sisterhood where she celebrated 50 years in 2010. She enjoyed the many friendships she made in P.E.O. chapters everywhere she lived; Austin Minn., Fort Dodge, and Ottumwa, Iowa. For the past 15 years, Jolene enjoyed retirement with Jim by spending the summers in Minnesota, where she could spend time and catch up with old friends. Then they would flee to sunny Bonita Springs, Fla., for the winter, where she enjoyed an occasional golf game, Sundays at the beach, concerts in the park, spending time with friends and the many visitors she hosted.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Sue Carol (Robert) Rohde.

Jolene is survived by her husband, James; daughter, Jill Alexander, of Downers Grove, Ill.; son, Jay Alexander, of Henderson, Nev.; and brother, Fredrick (Janell) Petersen, of Pewaukee, Wis.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with Todd Portinga, AiM officiating.  Visitation will be at the church for one hour before the service. Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to The Rochester Ronald McDonald House online at rmhmn.org or at 850 2nd Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902.