JEAN MARIE STACY-SNOW
JEAN MARIE STACY-SNOW
Jean Marie Stacy-Snow, 71, began her journey peacefully at her home in Black River Falls Feb. 23, 2026, surrounded by the family who loved her deeply.
Born June 1, 1954, Jean was an enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and a woman whose life was defined by service, faith, and a fierce love for her people. She earned her Bachelor of Science in social work from Metropolitan State College in 1987 and her Master of Divinity from the Iliff School of Theology in 1995, grounding her life’s work in compassion, understanding, and unwavering belief in the dignity of every person she served.
Jean’s professional path carried her through many meaningful roles within the Ho-Chunk Nation and the Denver Indian Center. One of her proudest accomplishments was helping create the Elder Community Work Program, known today as the Elder Workforce Division. At the time it began, it was only a pilot program, an idea rooted in her belief that Elders deserved meaningful opportunities to remain engaged, share their teachings, and contribute to the wellbeing of the Nation in ways that honored their gifts. She helped shape that program from the ground up: advocating for its development, building its structure, ensuring Elders had respectful placements, and nurturing it until it became a fully established division. Her vision created a lasting space where Elders could continue to lead with purpose, dignity, and cultural strength. It remains one of her most enduring contributions to the Nation.
Beyond that, Jean served as a social worker, assistant director of social services, division manager for Supportive Education services, Elder Division manager, and most recently, executive director of Labor. Her work spanned child protection, domestic violence advocacy, education, adoption support, youth programming, and workforce development. Whether she was supporting families through crisis or guiding staff through complex community needs, Jean’s presence was steady, honest, and deeply rooted in compassion.
Her ministry was just as powerful. She served as a pastor and confirmation teacher at Ho-Chunk United Church of Christ and shared her voice as a guest preacher at the Indian Baptist Church in Wisconsin Dells. Her sermons carried humor, humility, and truth, always grounded in her lived experience, her faith, and her love for the people she served.
Jean’s story is one of faith, love, resilience, and profound impact. Those who knew her carry pieces of her; her words, her laughter, her strength, and the way she believed in people until they learned to believe in themselves. Her memory will continue to guide and uplift her family, her community, and all who were blessed to walk beside her.
Jean Marie Stacy-Snow is survived by her daughters, Stacy Pieters, Tisha Pieters, and Mariah Blackhawk; her son, Justice Blackhawk; and the many grandchildren she loved and adored, including the grandchildren she lovingly raised, Arrayah Blackhawk-Link and Mitchell Blackhawk-Link.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Barry L. Blackhawk, and her special friend Ralph Lopez.
Visitation was held Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Buswell Funeral Home in Black River Falls. The funeral service followed at 1 p.m., with burial at the Ho-Chunk United Church of Christ Cemetery at 2:15 p.m. An online memory and photo-sharing tribute book will begin printing March 5.