Jean Rogers Schoen, of Essex Junction, Vt., passed away peacefully in her home on January 16, 2026. Jean was born and raised in the small town of Viroqua, Wis., to Fred Simeon Rogers and Hazel Baker Rogers.
In this rural setting, and being the youngest in a very large family, Jean acquired early confidence with many aspects of life. With her father as the owner of the local coal yard, Jean helped her dad deliver coal in the dead of winter via horse and sleigh. During the Depression, at Christmas, they would load up that same sleigh together and deliver gift baskets to her father’s tenant families. In the summer months, it was Jean’s responsibility to mow the grass in front of the coal yard up to the Vernon County Tobacco Warehouse a block away with a push mower, in weeds up to her 7-year-old knees. At the age of 6 she began the weekly trek from the coal yard to the National Bank on Main Street with a pouch filled with the business’ cash for deposit and never lost a dime. Many times, she did this while riding her beloved Shetland pony, Midgie.
After Jean graduated from Viroqua High School, she helped drive her favorite Aunt Flo back to her home in Wyoming. Jean decided to stay and attend the University of Wyoming in Laramie to major in education. It was there, in a geology class, that Jean met her future husband of 66 years, Robert “Bob” Schoen. However, before getting married, as a treat to herself in 1956, Jean scandalized her mother and left for a summer youth hostel bicycling trip in Europe. She raised the $2,300 ticket by teaching kindergarten. Jean’s group of three young women and seven young men, from all over America, traversed the continent, traveling over 1,200 miles, including a portion of the French Alps. One of the young women became Jean’s friend for life, sweet Zona. Jean kept a travel journal that showcased her experiences that summer. From stumbling upon the Queen of England at the Victoria Cross for Valor in London (“Elizabeth II seems to be a humble and lovely queen”) to swimming in the Adriatic; a gondola ride on the Grand Canal in Venice; sampling cuisines from Germany, Austria and Switzerland; a service in Westminster Abbey; and witnessing firsthand the damage from World War II, still visible — all provided Jean with an incredible experience far beyond the farming community in which she grew up.
Jean continued to teach kindergarten in Wisconsin until her marriage to Bob and retained a lifelong love of little children. Over the next six years her own four blessings arrived. Jean’s focus from then on was being a mother to these joys of her life. While she still loved to travel, the opportunity seldom arose during those years, except in 1968. That summer her geologist husband was to give a speech at a worldwide geology symposium in Prague, Czechoslovakia. They spent the summer traveling through Europe. In August, despite the turbulent political waters, Bob gave his speech to 3,000 geologists. Early the following morning, Jean and Bob were awakened by rumbling Soviet planes overhead and Soviet tanks rolling down the streets in front of their hotel room’s windows. A day later, as the food ran out and the electricity was cut, Jean decided to go outside and see this invasion with her own eyes, while waiting for Bob to find a way out of the country. She calmly recalls in her travel journal walking down the street and glaring at the soldiers pointing their guns from tank turrets at her. With a waylaid bus and driver, the international hotel guests were transported at night to a train station and ultimately to safety in Vienna, Austria, far from the brutal Soviet occupation.
Jean’s artistic talents ran from sketching to watercolors to working with stained glass. She had a particular appreciation of the beauty of clouds in the sky. Her love of horses caused her to insist that her own daughters be responsible for a horse upon moving from Cupertino, Calif., to Herndon, Va., during their early teenage years. That love was passed on to her children when she found sweet Buck, their beautiful Quarter Horse. After her children grew up and moved on, she continued to travel with Elderhostel and biked with her husband and son. Her hobbies included painting, jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, playing Solitaire, reading, dancing and singing. She loved music. Family camping trips in the old green station wagon were loud and boisterous with song. She absolutely loved Christmas stocking stuffers, brandy Manhattans, lobster tails with copious quantities of melted butter, and braids in her hair.
Jean and her husband retired to Middleton, Wis., but eventually moved to Vermont to be closer to their daughter and son. Leaving Wisconsin was difficult for her. Her family, extended family, so many memories — Wisconsin was, is and will always be her home. “The only state that matters.” Her favorite saying? “Uffda!”
Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; parents, Fred and Hazel; sisters Esther R. Lawton (Jack), Frances R. Alexander (Bill) and Helen R. DeLap (Bunny); brothers Fred “Fritz” Rogers (Norma), William “Bill” Rogers (Janet) and baby boy Rogers; a beloved niece, Jeanne Lawton; and a grandnephew, Nick DeLap.
Surviving Jean to cherish her memory and love of her huge family tree are her children: Wendy Schoen Cowne (Stephen), Paula Schoen VanDeventer (William), Roxana Schoen and Peter Schoen (Leslie Pelch); seven grandchildren: Aric Cowne, Justin Cowne, Alexander Kolankiewicz, Peter VanDeventer, Gretchen VanDeventer, Tristan VanDeventer and Willa Pelschoen; seven great-grandchildren; nieces: Mary DeLap Sandstrom (Paul), P. Sue Alexander, Donna Rogers Marhofke (John), Karen Rogers Teed (Kim), Rebecca “Becky” Rogers (Doug De Laurier), Candice Rogers Andrich (John) and Shelley DeLap Adel (David); and nephews: Jack Lawton (Bonnie), Jim DeLap (Paula), Fred Alexander (Lisa), Fred “Fritz” Rogers (Mary Koenig) and John DeLap (Sara); along with many extended branches.
Vermont held a very important ancestral fascination for Jean: Her first cousin, five timesremoved, was the hero and scoundrel himself, Mr. Ethan Allen of the Green Mountain Boys. She received a royal welcome each time she visited his Vermont homestead.
A private family celebration will be held in Viroqua, Wis., in the summer, where she and her husband will be laid to rest under a “nice piece of gneiss” in the Viroqua Cemetery. Jean’s children would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and deep appreciation to the following, for their tender care, amazing compassion and love for Jean and also their assistance to her family: at Mansfield Place, Fatima, Dani, Leah (who helped Mom to “rock those long braids”), Shelby, Glen and Ella; and the folks at Bayada Hospice. Jean also leaves behind her favorite table mate and friend, Eileen.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jean’s name to either the Vernon County Museum and History Center, 410 S. Center Ave., Viroqua, WI 54665; or the Vernon County Fairgrounds, a dearly held family tradition since the early 1900s (P.O. Box 388, Viroqua, WI 54665), and where the main barn still holds “Fred S Rogers” above the doors. Mom was so proud that her dad kept it running with a donation of $600 during the Depression. The horse races were her favorite part. Uffda!
Arrangements are in the care of the Cremation Society of Chittenden County, a division of Ready Funeral and Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit cremationsocietycc.com.