Jean Louise Kokott

Jean Kokott lived a full and loving life. Born on April 17th, 1935, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, she grew up loving the Mississippi River and the mighty bluffs which give such majestic shape to her hometown. A deep love for the winding backroads, small towns, and lore of the Driftless Region remained with her all her life.

Though the only child of Esther Krueger and Robert MacKenzie, she was surrounded by a large, happy, and close-knit family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, a family that she, her husband, and children have remained close with through the years. That early life of delight in family helped her form an enduring commitment to open hospitality both planned and spontaneous. The door was always open and a warm meal at the ready at the Kokott’s house. The annual Thanksgiving at Jean and Dan’s was a happy and crowded family gathering.

Jean was a pathbreaker. In 1959 she moved to Madison, Wisconsin and opened a specialty clothing store on State Street for women who were, like her, tall. For some years she was the youngest woman running her own business in Madison. Women travelled from across the midwest to shop in her unique store. After 35 successful years in business, she retired and began working part-time for the Diocese of Madison.

In 1960 she married Daniel Kokott, with whom she raised their two sons, Robert and John. With her enthusiasm for so many things, she nurtured in her boys a life-long love of books and learning, of music, of flowers and card-playing and physical activities like ice-skating and tree-climbing and swimming. She loved to laugh and felt that life ought to be fun. She read poetry to her children and taught them to read at a very young age.

Jean loved Big Band and early jazz music, the Great American Songbook, show tunes, and nonsense ditties. She and Dan could dance all night to the live polka and waltz music at the country weddings of their Polish nieces and nephews. She loved to go dancing when Louis Armstrong would be in La Crosse with his band or in Milwaukee in the mid-1950’s while she was there in business school.

Jean loved lilacs and tulips and daffodils and dandelions and all things that bloom. She loved dogs, playing bridge and other complicated card games, meeting new people, and her big family on both her and Dan’s side. She loved to lie on the bed with the windows wide open and thrill to a raucous thunderstorm, one son tucked under each arm. They loved it too. How she loved her boys.

Jean passed away on April 27th, 2025, a gorgeous Spring morning. She is survived by her sons Robert (Arlie), and John (Melissa), grandchildren Nicholas and Tyler, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to thank the profoundly loving staff at St. Mary’s Care Center and the SSM Hospice folks. Mom loved you guys.

There will be a visitation on Thursday, June 12th, from 4:00-7:00 at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Rd., in Madison.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held the next day, Friday, June 13th, at 11:00, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 602 Everglade Drive, in Madison. There will be another brief visitation at the church prior to Mass, starting at 10:00.

Donations may be made to Luke House, a local organization providing warm meals in a loving setting to all who are hungry. Go to www.lukehousemadison.org.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road, Madison

(608) 238-3434