Barbara ‘Jean’ Nyman

Jean was born April 14, 1928, in West Allis, WI to Russel and Helen (Olson) Swenor. She attended schools in the Milwaukee area but was sickened with Tuberculosis when she was 17 years old and was unable to finish high school, spending her senior year in a sanitarium in Lake Geneva, WI.

Jean was able to regain her health and a few years later started a family in Beaver Grove with her husband Orville Basal. Jean and Orville had two children, Jan and Wayne. Tragedy struck when Orville died of an illness at a young age.

On September 12, 1964, Jean married Rudy Nyman. Jean and Rudy brought together a blended family of six children: Jan and Wayne Basal; and Barbara, Jill, Pam, and Mary Kay Nyman. A seventh child, Rudy, was born a couple years later. Jean was a full-time home keeper, carrying for her family with tenderness and care. She was truly a loving, sweet lady her entire life.

As their blended family moved off to start their own lives, Jean and Rudy were each other’s best friend and companion. They were never apart during their 57 year marriage. Jean helped Rudy build their retirement log home while they were in their 60’s. During their time together they traveled throughout the United States in their motorhome and later spent their summers visiting U.P. casinos and campgrounds in their 5th wheeler. Family was Jean’s passion, but she was also devoted to the Detroit Tigers. She and Rudy were true fans, watching every game on television until Rudy passed away in 2022. Whenever family came to visit during baseball season, the Tigers were on the TV.

Surviving are her children from her blended family; daughters Barbara Jean Morrison of Iron Mountain, Janice (Jim) Kippola of Negaunee, Mary Kay (Mark ‘Gart’) Charbonneau of Norway, MI; sons Wayne Basal of Ishpeming, and Rudy (Delcene) Nyman of Appleton, WI; grandchildren Jim (Kimberly) Jandron of Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Dawn McNutt of Norman, OK, Pennie Lake of Rapid River, Megan (Chris) Penney of Negaunee, Jim (Rose) Kippola of St. Paul, MN, Travis Brown of Iron Mountain, Kortney (Calvin) Manuel of Appleton, WI, Brett Nyman (Fiancee Emily Mullendore) of Phoenix, AZ; her brother Russel ‘Buck’ Swenor, Gwinn; along with several great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and daughters; Jill (Jandron) Nyman, and Pam (LeMay) Nyman; sister Arlene Basal, and brother Terry Swenor.

Honoring Jean’s wishes there will be no public service. A family burial will occur at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham on a future date.

Special recognition to her son Wayne for being her ‘live in nurse’ over the past year. We’ll forever be grateful for the loving care he provided for mom, allowing her to live in her home until her final month of life. Our family would also like to thank the staff at Acute Care, Bell Hospital, for their care of mom; UP Health System Home Care and Hospice for the extended care given during her last year of life, along with the staff at Norlite Nursing Center for providing wonderful care to our mother during the last few weeks of her life.

A full obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com, where relatives and friends are invited to leave notes of remembrance.