Jean grew up in Grafton and Hartford, Wisconsin and in 1987 received her Associate Degree in accounting from Milwaukee Area Technical College - Mequon. In 1994, she and her husband Gib moved to Hayward.

She is involved in Fishing Has No Boundaries, Church Visitation Ministry, and Treasurer for TigerCat Lake Association. She enjoys all water sports in summer and snowmobiling in the winter.