Jennifer Lee Staver

Jennifer Lee Staver, 64, passed away peacefully at Angel’s Grace Hospice in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, on January 22, 2023.  Jenny battled her cancer with every weapon available and embarked on a spiritual and health-based journey that took her across the country in search of peace and a cure.  

Jenny was born to Demosthenes and Lois Staver on June 13, 1958.  She was the third of four children in a tight-knit Greek family filled with love and laughter, delicious food and celebrations, and an unquenchable zest for life.   

Jenny was unstoppable.  She attained a physical therapy degree in her late 30’s and went on to change many lives.  She always went above and beyond, and she inspired her friends and her patients to be better and do more. She was a compassionate and devoted therapist and a much loved and respected coworker.  She was passionate about fitness and was known for taking extremely long walks with friends and her beloved dogs Harley and Matilda. 

Jenny’s devoted and loving partner in life was SteveO.  Together they traveled the continent on two wheels and, later, on three.  They had many amazing adventures and Jenny was never more at home than when she had her arms around SteveO and the wind in her hair.  They especially enjoyed cycling with friends to western Wisconsin along the Mississippi River.  Jenny’s stamina and love of dancing is legendary among her many motorcycle friends, and they will miss the joy and energy that she brought to their gatherings.  

Jenny packed 100 years of living into her 64 years of life.  She enjoyed cool cars, preferably Fords, and had several enviable Mustangs. She was a spirited Packer supporter. She gardened artfully and skillfully and her flowers and vegetables were beautiful and delicious.  To know Jenny was to know her love of food from perfectly toasted crusty bread with the butter spread to every edge, to her enjoyment of the finest wines and perusing a good menu.  She was as adventurous in her love of food as in her love of a long road trip, tent camping and campfires, exploration of less traveled back roads, festivals and live music, and the search for the perfect sunset or sunrise.  She couldn’t pass a playground swing without taking a turn and never missed a chance to take her shoes off to dip her toes in water.  

When Jenny turned her beautiful sky-blue eyes upon you, you felt that you were really being seen and heard.  She gave her patients her full attention, and as a sister and friend, she was unselfish and caring.  Jenny will be missed by many, but especially by her life partner SteveO Schenck, siblings Demo (Carly) Staver, Debbie (Harold) Wilke, brother-in-law Jack Merkel, nieces Arianna (Sean) Naughtin and Jenna (Ryan) Olson; nephews Nick (Jenny) Crawford and Jason (Anne) Crawford; her grandnephews Nolan, Miles and Madden; her grandnieces Makenzie and Juliet, and SteveO’s son and his wife Christopher Lee and Courtney Schenck and their children Morgan Elizabeth and Miles. She is preceded in death by her parents Demosthenes and Lois Staver and her sister Cassandra.  She had many friends who were like family, and we will all miss her vibrant, curious, energetic and joyous spirit.

Please join us in celebrating Jenny’s life on Sunday, July 9th at 2pm

at Glacier Hills County Park, 1664 Friess Lake Road, Hubertus WI 53033.  

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to (The American Cancer Society) in Jenny’s memory.