Jeanne A Cohen

Breaking News: Wall Street's retail forecasts took an unexpected turn as TJMaxx stock plummets following the announcement that Jeanne Ann (Herting) Cohen has made her final purchase. Jerry’s beloved sweet butterfly grew angel wings late on April 9, 2026, and flew to Heaven. She was 85 years old.

Jeanne was born on August 28, 1940, in Des Moines, Iowa, to William and Madeleine (Schaefle) Herting, and grew up in Dubuque. When she was nine years old, her father passed away, leaving the family to face hardship. They relied on the kindness of neighbors and community. Jeanne, who a young girl, was already learning to hold things together for herself and others. She tended to her Grandma Schaefle, who lived with the family, she babysat for extra money, and volunteered at church. For fun, she attended every church dance and military hall function she could find. She approached both work and recreation with equal gusto. While she loved her classmates, school was not her thing. According to her diary, every now and again, she was reprimanded by the nuns. Her very best friend, Carol Jungles, summed it up perfectly: "Boy, did we get in trouble."

After high school, Jeanne set her sights on Milwaukee. She moved into an East Side apartment with a group of young women and took a job with Ma Bell. In 1965, a neighbor introduced her to a young saloon keeper and general store proprietor named Jerry Cohen. Their first dinner together was pork chops she baked with mushroom soup and sweetened condensed milk made in an electric frying pan, it was, by all accounts, a disaster. So terrible, she never cooked again.

Jeanne soon found her calling in retail, managing Cohen’s downtown Variety Store called the Hen House. Then, in 1967, she up and left Jerry in a lurch right before the Christmas shopping season, off to San Francisco to find her fortune on the West Coast. A disaster. He wasn’t angry, just numb. Jerry chased after her, returning three or four times to beg her return. She finally caved when in 1969, they landed a man on the moon and Jerry kept his promise to marry. He proposed with a cheap gold ring that he purchased at an antique store on Wisconsin Avenue for fifty bucks. He credits Neil Armstrong for the marriage. Jeanne insisted on Thanksgiving Day, so her anniversary would never be forgotten. On November 27,1969, Father Helmut of Berkeley performed the ceremony at Cathedral Circle in The Muir Woods. It was, like Jeanne herself, unforgettable.

The couple returned to Wisconsin and got back to work. They joined Old Saint Mary Parish under the beloved Fr. San Falipo. That church community would sustain their faith for decades. While Jerry tended his downtown taverns, Jeanne built a small empire of inspired retail: The Hen House, Potato Brothers stores in both Milwaukee and Madison, a card shop called Good Intentions, and the exquisite jewelry store Pomme de Terre on Wisconsin Avenue and Water Street. She later opened Gallery 433 in Vail, Colorado. Her shops were destinations, places where the lucky customer always found that perfect, one-of-a-kind gift. The employees she mentored became lifelong friends and, in the absence of children of her own, were her family.

By the mid-1980s, Jeanne had consolidated her Milwaukee businesses into one awesome gift and jewelry shop connected to to her husband’s restaurant and tavern, Someplace Else. On February 28, 1989, while the couple was holidaying in Miami, a fire in the basement of their businesses spread and consumed the entire building. It was a devastating end to an era. Jeanne, characteristically, was simply grateful that no one was hurt.

Nearly age 50, she opened a small gallery in the Knickerbocker Hotel and also pioneered what might rightly be called the modern-day pop-up. She hosted parties featuring art from around the world and silver splendors from Taxco, Mexico.

The decades that followed were filled with wander. Jeanne traveled with anyone who pitched an adventure: she took her mother-in-law to visit relatives in Poland, cruised with Regis and Kathie Lee, climbed the Mayan pyramids, made pilgrimages to Holy Lands, took many Disney cruises with the Katz Family whose children she loved as if they were her own. And could be talked into a jaunt to Las Vegas or New York City at a moment's notice for an installation viewing or to see a show. Jeanne was athletic. She loved to swim and was great at downhill skiing with friends in Vail CO. She especially looked forward to Christmas on the slopes with Mary Ellen and Annie Dehaven. Her absolute favorite pastime was gambling. She played blackjack like it was her vocation (always split eights and double down on eleven). Gradually, she and Jerry settled into a rhythm of winters in South Beach and summers in Milwaukee.

Jeanne was all about the fun, and she was funny. Jeanne didn’t go to a party, she crashed it. Everywhere she went, she was a star without ever stealing anyone’s show. She was deeply intrigued by the people around her. The stories she told were rarely about herself; they were about what she found interesting and, more importantly, amusing about people. She could always take a joke. She gave credit freely and received admiration humbly.

It was at age 75 when Jeanne started to exhibit memory loss. It was not long before it became clear that she was to walk the agonizing road of Alzheimer’s Dementia. In the beginning when she had awareness of her condition, she faced it with remarkable frankness and grace. She pointed out with humor, who was in better or worse shape than herself. She held tight to trusted friends and to Jerry for support and she accepted care from Jim Benzow, who was to her a loving son. Later, Michele Reid joined the team. She busied Jeanne’s days with rosaries and shopping and nights with dinner outings and old stories. As needs increased and Jerry's vision decreased, Jim and Michele assembled a team of caregivers who gave round the clock service to the Cohens. Jerry called the group "The Careless Givers," a fitting name for those learning as they went. Mistakes were made. Messes were left behind, quite literally. But Jeanne's irresistible personality and laughter had a way of turning everything into a memory. At the end of the day, love was their common denominator, and they had that part down perfectly. The team prayed a daily rosary and got the folks out to their local haunts. Jeanne loved Culvers, McDonalds and the Cheesecake Factory. And every Saturday it was mass at Old St Mary and dinner at Elsa's. This went on for years, but when the outings became untenable Jeanne started to close up shop. After ten long, tough and beautiful years, Jeanne was ready to go on ahead. But in her usual fashion, there would be a gathering. During her last week, dozens of friends were able to travel from near and far to express love and gratitude. Calls came in with prayers on the speaker phone. Countless rosaries and litanies were recited. Last Rites Anointing took place. Then Thursday night with the lights dimmed, there was a slumber party. By flashlight, entries were read from Jeannes childhood diary while she held Jerry's hand and got her last mini facial treatment. When the book was closed and the lights turned out, Jeanne slipped quietly away into into the arms of our Lord.

The path of Alzheimer’s is long and bumpy. We thank the endless list of practitioners who made smoother the journey. Thanks to Dr. “Curly” for your longtime tailored care. Horizon Hospice, thank you for your assistance especially during Jeanne’s final days. And to The Careless Givers. There are no words to express the gratitude felt for each one of you. We know that you did not just care for Jeanne, you sincerely loved her. You are truly earth angels. Special thanks to Fr. Tim Kitzke who was always there, especially in our hour of need. You are hope for the weary.

Jeanne leaves behind Jerry and her sister Barbara Duginski of Milwaukee. There are nieces, nephews and a multitude of friends who will miss her dearly. There are a whole bunch of people who died before Jeannie but it’s too expensive to mention them all.

Visitation at Old St. Mary Church (836 N Broadway, Milwaukee) on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 4:00 PM until 6:15 PM with a Rosary at 6:30 PM. Mass of Christian Burial at Old St. Mary Church on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 9:30AM with Fr. Timothy L, Kitzke presiding. Private interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, kindly donate in Jeanne's memory to: Milwaukee Rescue Mission, Old Saint Mary Catholic Church, Alzheimer's Association, or the Katz Hillel Day School.