Jane Crowell

Jane Crowell, age 97 of St. Paul Park, MN, formerly of Denver, CO, passed away October 13, 2016.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 am, Thursday, October 20, 2016 at The Church of St. Rita, 8694-80th Street S., Cottage Grove with visitation one hour prior. Interment will be held at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO.

Jane (Gruesen) Crowell was born December 17, 1918 in Duluth, Minnesota to Antone and Jennie (Belleperche) Gruesen. She grew up in Duluth, where she also graduated from high school. She initially worked as a book keeper for her brother-in-law who was a beer distributer in Ely, Minnesota. In 1956, she took a position as secretary for IBM and worked in Reno, Nevada and later in Boulder, Colorado, where she retired in 1971.

Jane was united in marriage to Frank Crowell in Lakewood, Colorado, where they lived for the next 40 years. She was very community focused and devoted her time to teaching English to Vietnamese refugees, local charities and visiting people. She was very active at St. Jude Catholic Church in Lakewood, where she founded their "Prime Timers" Club. After Frank passed away in 2011, Jane moved to Minnesota to live near family.

She is survived by her step-sons, David (Catherine) and James (Linda); grandchildren, Jennifer, Andria, Elizabeth, Valerie, Stephanie and Tracy; 6 great-granddaughters; 5 great-grandsons as well as nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Frank; parents and sisters.