Jean Consigny

(Madison) Jean McDowell Consigny, age 79, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 20, 2015 surrounded by her loving family. Her family was extremely fortunate to be able to enjoy Jean for three years following her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Jean was born on July 6, 1936 in Columbus, Ohio, to James and Ruth McDowell. She grew up in Cincinnati Ohio, Sioux City, Iowa, and Evanston, Illinois. She attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where she received a Bachelor Degree in Language Arts and met her future husband Thomas. They married upon his receiving his law degree from the U.W., and have happily lived in Madison, WI ever since.

She is survived by her husband Tom, brother Bruce McDowell (Judy) of Minocqua, cousin Patti James (Arlo) of Denver, brother-in-law Ned (Barbara) of Milwaukee and nieces and nephews.

Tom and Jean have three children, David (Linda) with USAID in Honduras, Karen Morris (Kurt) who are both firefighters in Colorado, and Mark (Anita), a VP at USBank in Madison. They have five beloved grandchildren: Elliot (Emily), Niles, Moriah, Cole, and Dane, and one great-grandchild, Juniper, daughter of Elliot and Emily. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, sister Lynne Stimple of Cedar Rapids, and brother- in-law Robert Consigny (Pat).

Jean and Tom lived in Madison's wonderful Orchard Ridge community on a lovely wooded lot for 43 years and developed many close and lasting friendships. Many more close friendships were formed during their recent years in the Junction Ridge condo community on Madison's west side. Jean was an active member of many associations where she developed countless loving and lasting friendships: the Madison Civics Club, Madison Women's Club, twenty two years as an Attic Angel, and 40 loving years as a member of PEO Chapter BC, where she had the honor of serving as President. She counted many lifelong friends in the Kappa Alpha Theta social sorority at the U.W. For 25 years she was a co-owner of Country Shades Antiques with her special friends Jan Leu and Carol Craig.

Jean and Toms' dogs Tinker, Tigger, Winnie and Anni were daily delights. Jean also made time for gardening, watercolor painting, riding horses (long ago!), camping and traveling to various states east and west, Florida, Canada, and Europe. Over the past 18 years she and Tom and friends and family relished time together in northern Wisconsin at their Sugarbush cabin near Minocqua.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2016 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Attic Angels Community Room located at 8301 Old Sauk Road, Madison. A memorial service and short reception will follow, officiated by Sandy Nuernberg, a loving friend and pastor. The family very warmly thanks the caregivers from Agrace HospiceCare, Senior Helpers, and doctors Amit Sanyal and Jeff Wood of Dean Clinic West for their excellent care. Memorials remembering Jean would be greatly appreciated for any of the above organizations and/or the PEO Educational Fund.

Please share your memories of Jean.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434