Jean Katherine (Erickson) Chernega

Jean Katherine (Erickson) Chernega passed away suddenly on March 2, 2026 in Hudson, Wisconsin after a courageous battle with cancer.

Jean was born April 27, 1948 in Duluth, Minnesota to Walberg and Edwin Erickson. She attended college at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities where she graduated with honors. During her college years, she met John George Chernega. They were married on July 15, 1972 and moved to Stillwater, Minnesota in 1977. Later in life, they moved to Hudson, Wisconsin.

Jean was a dedicated educator, who devoted many years as a preschool teacher at Sunny Hill Nursery School and Holy Cross Preschool. She loved working with children and touched countless lives with her gentle patience and warm smile.

Jean was happiest spending time with her family. She supported her family by cheering at their sporting events, hosting holiday meals, attending plays and recitals, and playing games together. She loved singing hymns and playing the piano. She also loved quilting, doing crossword puzzles, and baking- delighting her guests with Geneva Puff every Christmas. She cherished her relationships with others, making friends at every stage in her life and maintaining those friendships by getting friends together for coffee, meals, and laughter.

Jean lived a life full of kindness, and she will always be a part of the lives she touched. She will be deeply missed by her husband, John; her children, John Eric (Jenna), Katie (Jake) Dalhstrom, and Bill (Jessica); and her grandchildren Madelyn, Emily, Luke, Betty, Rowan, and Ben. She is preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Richard Erickson.

Her Celebration of Life will be held 11am Thursday, March 19th at Bradshaw, 2800 Curve Crest Blvd., Stillwater with visitation beginning one hour prior. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society.