Jean Marie Bischel

Jean Marie Bischel, 87, passed away at home in West Chester, Ohio on Sunday, July 2, 2023, Feast of the Visitation, at 5 pm.

Born on a dairy farm in Bloomer, Wisconsin, Jean was the third of eight children born to William and Marcella (Grill) Hable. Five days later, Kirby Bischel was born, and their names are listed side by side in the baptismal register of St. Paul’s Catholic Church.

With no electricity or running water, Jean remembered those early days well.  She attended grade school at St. Paul’s Catholic School in Bloomer. Taught by the Sisters of the Divine Savior, she credited them with helping her to acquire a deep understanding and love of her Catholic faith. Jean attended Bloomer High School, and it was there where she became good friends with Kirby.  She graduated third in her class and continued a lifelong love of reading.

After high school, Jean obtained a nursing degree from St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Rochester, Minnesota which was affiliated with the Mayo Clinic. Jean loved telling stories of her time there and about the rigors of the program and working with the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Lourdes.

She married Kirby Louis Bischel on September 14, 1957 at St. Paul’s in Bloomer. Jean worked as a nurse while Kirby finished his last semester of Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.  Soon after, they loaded all of their belongings into the back of the old Studebaker and drove to Dallas, Texas where Kirby was being sent for seismograph training with Mobile Oil.  This was the starting point for a long series of many moves for them.

Accepting a job abroad, Kirby and Jean landed in Tripoli, Libya where Kirby headed a crew in the Sahara Desert exploring for oil, leaving Jean back at their villa for three out of every four weeks.  Although a challenge at times, Jean had many stories to tell of this time in her life about interesting people and places. They welcomed their first child, Mark, while living there.

After two years, they returned to the States via the Queen Mary, and lived in Texas where Beth and Anne were born. Kirby then took a job with the Square D Company.  This started the next phase of their life which involved eight months of training and many more moves before they settled in Crown Point, Indiana in 1965.

Purchasing an old summer cottage on two acres with numerous apple trees, Kirby and Jean were able to put down some roots.  They had an addition built onto the house, which doubled its size. Here, the family grew to include Patrick, Timothy, Carolyn and Jennifer.  In addition to raising the family, Jean spent time gardening and began experimenting with organics and composting. She also started to become active in politics, including being elected as a precinct committee woman.

These were happy years for Jean, but a job transfer for Kirby took the family to Edmond, Oklahoma in 1973.  Leaving behind the lush green of Indiana and relocating into the drier climate was only one of many challenges for Jean during this period.  Unsettled with the Vatican II changes in the Catholic church, the family started to attend the Latin Mass.  Soon, Jean's interests transitioned away from politics and moved toward being active in promoting the traditional Catholic movement.

In 1976, the family moved into a farmhouse with 40 acres in Highlandville, Missouri. Jean developed a number of new interests while living in the Ozarks including raising hogs with her son Pat, running a booth in an antique mall, and attending many basketball games, track meets and piano lessons.  She also spent 6 years as a school board member. The family continued to attend the Latin Mass and eventually Jean became a coordinator for a mission Mass in the area. Jean and Kirby lived here for 23 years.

Upon Kirby’s retirement, they moved to Georgetown, Kentucky where they spent 16 years.  Jean often mentioned that this home was her favorite place to live. While here, she authored two phonics readers which came out of her love of teaching children to read.

Finally, to be closer to their church and family, Kirby and Jean relocated to the Cincinnati area.  She spent the final years of her life enjoying her family and helping with church activities and attending services at St. Gertrude’s. She also periodically housed various young people in her home and often filled a role as a mother to those in need.

Jean’s guiding rule in life was the verse “for what shall it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and suffers the loss of his soul.”  Jean was a loving and devoted wife and mother.  She was very proud of her children and grandchildren. She set a beautiful example throughout her life of service to God and neighbor.

She is survived by her husband Kirby, and children Mark (Annette Rusin) Bischel, Beth (Chester) Nelson, Anne (Thomas) Boylson, Pat (Thérèse) Bischel, Tim (Gayle) Bischel, Carolyn (Dean) McClorey and Jennifer (Scott) Richesson, 34 grandchildren (which includes 3 religious sisters) and 4 great-grandchildren; siblings Monica Dimino, Patricia Zastrow, William (Judy) Hable, Mike (Sally) Hable and David (Nancy) Hable.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Thomas Hable and Anthony Hable, sisters-in-law Gloria Hable and Karen Hable, brothers-in-law Milfred Zastrow and Michael Dimino, and granddaughter Monica Anne Bischel.

In lieu of flowers, Masses or donations may be directed to St. Gertrude the Great Roman Catholic Church in West Chester, Ohio or another organization of your choosing.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 9, 4 to 7pm at Mueller Funeral Home, 6791 Tylersville Rd, Mason, OH. Rosary will be at 6pm.

Funeral will be Monday, July 10, at 9am at St. Gertrude the Great Roman Catholic Church, 4900 Rialto Rd, West Chester, OH. Funeral mass will be live-streamed at sgg.org

Burial to follow at St. Johns Catholic Cemetery, Brooks Lane, Harrison, OH.  No formal escort will be provided and estimated drive time is 30 minutes.

Luncheon in Harrison following burial.  Details to follow.