Eileen Louise (Fondell) Jewett, 101, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on September 19, 2026 at The Rose Senior Living Center.

A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rickardsville, IA. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 a.m. with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Leonard Funeral Home and Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd. Dubuque is assisting the family.

Eileen was born on August 1, 1925 in Dubuque, the daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Schadler) Fondell. She married Dean Jewett on February 23, 1952. They celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary this year. While living at The Rose, Eileen enjoyed playing Bingo every week and loved playing cards when family visited. She especially like Euchre, “500” and “Pegs and Jokers”. Shortly after arriving to family gatherings, she quickly came out with. “well, what should we play?” Eileen also enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening. For many years, Dean and Eileen enjoyed spending winters in Port Arkansas, TX. There were cherished memories made during these times.

Eileen is survived by her husband, Dean; three daughters, Diane Braunreiter of Crandon, WI, Deborah (Dennis) Roling of Hazel Green, WI and Dena (Bill) Grutz of Platteville, WI; nine grandchildren, Missy (Nick) Keen, Angela Abitz, Justin (Anna) Roling, Jake (Tiffany) Roling, Charles (Alisha) Braunreiter, Carrie (Brian) Shimkus, Jeffrey (Stefanie) Braunreiter, Jesse (Kelli) Grutz and Joy (Lucas) Swan. She is also survived by 23 great grandchildren, Brandon, Caleb and Abbey Keen; Dawson, Dylan, and Jada Abitz; Jonah, Carsyn and Cooper Roling; Hayden, Brennen, Brogen, Olivia and Chloe Braunreiter; Carter and Dawson Shimkus; Ava, Vera, Nora, and Ella Grutz; and Gavin, Aliah, and Payton Swan. Eileen was so proud of all her grandchildren and great grand children and was always interested in their sports, schooling and all the fun things they were up to. Eileen’s only living sibling is Sister Bonita Fondell.

She will be joining her sons who died in infancy, Dale, Douglas and Dominic and her other siblings in heaven, Donald, John, Robert and Harold Fondell; Dorothy Perkins and Betty Schwartz.

During Mom’s final days she never stopped making us laugh with her humor. When family came to visit, she greeted them with a warm and welcoming smile. She shared her love for each one of them and always thanked them for their visit. She had so much gratitude for her life and felt so blessed to share it all with her husband of 74 years and her loving family. Her message to us was always that she lived the best life a woman could ever ask for. We, her family were the blessed ones to call her wife, mom, grandma, great gramma, sister and aunt. She will be deeply missed my many.