Obituary of Jean Ann Markkanen

Jean Ann Markkanen, born 3/4/35, found peace 2/11/17. Jean Ann was born in Mpls. during the Great Depression. She became the lucky dtr. of Joseph & Annie Sand- ness & niece of E. Louise Johnson. Early yrs. were lived on the Johnson family farm in Scott County. Living with the family was foster brother John Prazniak. In third grade the family moved to Pleasant Ave. So. in Mpls. where she attended Windom, Ramsey and Washburn. The family were members of Oak Grove Lutheran and later Richfield Lutheran church. Jean was married in 1953 to a handsome Korean war vet with a great car -Toivo Markkanen. They had 2 children - Becky & Perry to whom she was selflessly devoted. Divorced in 1968 she embarked on a journey of can-do spunk & stubborn tenacity. Expert cook, baker, knitter, sewer, wallpaperer, you name it. She loved Elvis, The Statler Bros, lutefisk/lefse, coffee and a good cocktail. She loved all animals, esp. the many who bettered out lives over the yrs. She worked in sales at JCP (Hub), clerical at Thermo King, sold magazine advertising nationally & built a successful Herbalife Distributorship of which she was the most proud. Along the way, she was hands on helping raise her 2 beloved g'children, Matthew and Annie Louise. The good people they have become she had much to do with in their early yrs. Sadly, mom became ill & permanently disabled in 1995. She endured these many long, hard yrs. thru determination, hope and true grit which she had in abundance. THANK YOU Mom/Mandy. You will be missed. Visitation 2/18/17, 10:30 AM with service at 11 AM, Cremation Society of Minn., 4343 Nicollet Ave. So.