Jean L. Dienhart (nee Hirlemann) of Milwaukee, WI, passed away in her home on December 19, 2025. Born on September 11, 1946 in Battle Creek, Michigan, Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Louis W. and Anne Hirlemann, and her younger sister, Marilyn (Fox). She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Robert F. (Bob) Dienhart, her son Robert S., her son Michael (former spouse Cindy) and their two children, Kevin and Loren. She is further survived by her older sister Sr. Eloise Hirlemann RSM, of the Sisters of Mercy; her older brother Louis R. Hirlemann (wife Nancy) and their children Wendy (Hodge) and Louis J.; her late sister Marilyn’s daughters Michelle Dill and Kate Maas; and a large number of siblings-in-law on husband Bob’s side of the family plus nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.

Jean moved to Menomonee Falls, WI with her family in December, 1962 as a junior in high school. She graduated from Menomonee Falls High School in the spring of 1964 and continued her education to begin working as a Licensed Practical Nurse. In June of 1969 Jean married Robert F. (Bob) Dienhart, the “love of her life,” also from Menomonee Falls and on active duty with the U.S. Navy when they married.

Immediately following their marriage, Jean moved with Bob from her parents’ home in Menomonee Falls to his next assignment with a Navy communications site on Skaggs Island at the north end of the San Francisco Bay. They lived in Napa, CA, those two years and had son Robert. Jean and son Robert then followed Bob when he was transferred to his next assignment, a small Navy communications site operating on Terceira Island in the Portuguese Azores where they lived for 3 years and had son Michael. From the Azores Jean and the boys joined Bob when he was next transferred to a Navy communications operation collocated with the San Vito Dei Normanni Air Station west of Brindisi, Italy. They lived in the nearby town of Carovigno, Italy for two years. After that Jean and Bob and their boys moved back to the Menomonee Falls/Milwaukee area following Bob’s discharge from the Navy in 1976. Jean went back to working as an LPN and ultimately returned to school to become a Registered Nurse (RN). She loved being a nurse and made nursing her career until her retirement in March of 2012. Jean’s passion for the care of others inevitably drew her into post-retirement employment with Rent-a-Daughter and working in a non-medical capacity with home bound seniors – clients she loved and who greatly loved her.

Jean may have been small physically but her impact on those around her was immeasurable. She touched many lives, all in positive ways, including family, friends, bible study sisters, members of her church, fellow greeting card crafters, card playing buddies, neighbors, her nursing and Rent-a-Daughter clients, and so many others. Jean loved children and would make it a point to engage with them. She had a sense of adventure and would join right in on family camping trips. She loved camping! In 1996 Jean joined Bob on a bold seven week trip to Europe with bicycles, paniers, and camping equipment. They traveled in Austria, France, Germany, and Switzerland, sometimes camping and sometimes staying in youth hostels, bicycling when practical and opting for a train when appropriate. Truth be told, Jean may well be the one that put Bob up to organizing that memory making trip. She was known to make family gatherings special and if there was ever a game being played you could bet Jean was not only involved but most likely initiated it! Her enthusiastic and sparkling persona brightened a room, her smile and the glint in her eyes were infectious, and her clear laugh could be heard ringing above the sound of group conversation.

Over the course of her life with Bob Jean was a Cub Scout den leader, an avid and enthusiastic bicyclist, a creative cake maker and decorator, a committed crafter of custom greeting cards, and a decades long member of a women’s bible study group. Her home was a comfortable place in which all were welcome. She was a creative and health conscious cook, would be an accountability partner or trusted advocate when needed, was the best friend of many, and was always welcoming and ready to help. She was a loving and dedicated mother, a faithful and loving wife, a gifted and creative sister-in-law, a favorite aunt, and the best grandmother anyone could dream of.

A celebration of Jean’s life will be held on April 11, 2026 at Mercy Hill Church (2842 S. 5th Court, Milwaukee WI, 53207). Pre-service visitation will take place from 1:00PM to 2:00PM. The celebration of Jean’s life will start at 2:00PM. A reception with light refreshments will be held in the church lobby immediately after the service until 4:30PM. All are welcome to attend and share memories. Jean’s remains will ultimately be interred at Southern Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, WI.

In lieu of flowers or other donations, we encourage you to make memorial contributions in Jean’s name to Kwizera Ministries, https://www.kwizeraministries.org/. Jean joined Bob on a number of short term mission trips to Rwanda, Africa, that were organized and led by Kwizera Ministries, a Milwaukee based ministry started and run by close friends and fellow members of Mercy Hill Church. Kwizera Ministries partners with Solace Ministries Rwanda, an indigenous Christ centered ministry located in Kigali, Rwanda. Kwizera teams join with Solace staff to encourage and minister to survivors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi as well as other Rwandans that Solace now serves. Jean is thus known to and much loved by Solace staff as well as many in Solace communities that Jean has been blessed to visit. Kwizera Ministries and the Rwandans they serve alongside Solace would be especially close to Jean’s heart. “Kwizera,” a strong Rwandan word, means “Hope in the Lord.” People who knew Jean knew her to have a strong hope in and vibrant relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jean’s favorite scripture verse was Philippians 4:4.