Jean Marie Stacy-Snow

Jean Marie Stacy-Snow, age 71, began her journey peacefully at her home
in Black River Falls on February 23, 2026, surrounded by the family who
loved her deeply.
Born on 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 will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 11:00 AM to
1:00 PM at Buswell Funeral Home in Black River Falls. The funeral service
will follow at 1:00 PM, with burial at the Ho-Chunk United Church of Christ
Cemetery at 2:15 PM. An online memory and photo-sharing tribute book
will begin printing on March 5.