Jeanine Kay Michels, 72, of Colfax, Wis., died peacefully in her sleep, at home, on Thursday, May 30, 2013.

Jeanine was born July 29, 1940, in Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Thelma (Aske) Cornelius. She married Tom Michels in 1991; he survives. In Jeanine’s early years, she was a performer and vocalist, and was featured weekly on KGLO TV in Mason City. She held many secretarial positions through the years, most recently at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire as a transcriptionist. Jeanine had an adventurous spirit, and learned how to ride a Harley after the age of 50. She logged more than 30,000 miles with Tom by her side. Her most treasured times were with family or baking brownies with Dustin.

Survivors include her husband Tom; daughter Teresa (Lynn) Thompson; grandchild Christopher (Stacy) Thompson; great-grandchild Dustin; step-daughters: Karen Michels (friend John Taylor), Sharon (Jon) Berg, and Jeannie (Mark) Petska; step-grandchildren: Travis, Katie, Elizabeth, and Sarah; brother Keith Cornelius; sister Janis (Mike) Stenzel; nephew George Binger; and her special dog, Leo.

She is preceded in death by her parents; a son Todd Willsher; brother Harlan Cornelius, and a brother in infancy.

A celebration of Jeanine’s life will be at 5 p.m. today at Albertville Tavern, 8114 35th St., Colfax, Wis.

Cremation Society of Wisconsin is serving the family. Online condolences may be left at www.cremationsociety-wi.com.