Jacqueline Dianna Hustedt (Westcott), 86, of Wausau, WI, passed away peacefully on November 8, 2022, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, surrounded by her family. She was born on May 29, 1936, in an old farmhouse in the small logging community of Floodwood, MN, to the late Veronica (Haehlke) and Daniel Westcott.

She had a passion for flowers and her entire life reflected the joy they gave her and those around her. Jackie began her longtime career in the floral world as a florist's helper when she was 15 years old, working during the summer at Leap's Greenhouse, a neighborhood floral shop, planting seedlings and carrying flats of plants from one greenhouse to another. Maud, the owner, showed her how to arrange flowers and, at that early age, she made her first-ever professional corsages for Mother's Day.

Jackie graduated from Wausau High School in 1955 and was married the following November 1955 to James Newman. They moved to Kenosha, WI, where she raised her four wonderful children and, after 10 years, in 1965, rejoined the floral industry as a floral designer at the prestigious Sunnyside Florists and Greenhouses. Her attention to detail soon earned her a promotion to Head Designer. During her early career, she was recognized in Kenosha News's first "Jills of All Trades" series featuring working women. The article was further highlighted in leading publications throughout the floral industry.

Jackie served as an adjunct floral design instructor at the Kenosha technical college where she taught a few tricks of the trade to Michelle Molinare, from Michelle's Floral & Gifts and Floral Magic in Wausau, and Randy Verhasselt, from Evolutions In Design in Wausau. In 1983, she moved back to Wausau and, in 1984, continued her passion as an instructor of floral arrangement at the North Central Technical Institute in Mosinee, WI.

She was a designer at: Always Blooming, DJ's Floral & Gifts—owned by her son David, and Floral Designs by Jackie—a shop she co-owned with Harlow Hustedt. She never tired of the beauty of flowers.

Jackie met Harlow Hustedt during her employ at Always Blooming. He was a mechanic working on the walk-in cooler. Their first date was bingo at church, and they went to many games together! They were married December 27, 1989.

She was very active in her church, Holy Name of Jesus. For nearly 10 years, she baked 160 pies and cakes for the Holy Name Summer Fun cake walk event. Each year she would increase what she did the prior year. Her favorite cake was chocolate with chocolate frosting and her favorite pie was lemon meringue.

Her creativity went beyond flowers. She LOVED to paint. Using acrylic paints, her forte was painting birds on branches on both small and large canvases. She also liked to play endless games of scrabble and, even at age 75, hit the golf course with her son David—and almost always beat him. She also loved family gatherings on holidays and birthdays, especially the fourth of July celebrations at her brother Ron's home in Athens, WI.

Jackie is survived by siblings Ronald (MaryAnn) Westcott, Patsy Westcott, and Daniel (Clarice) Westcott, and children Vickie, Patsy, David, and Susanne Newman, along with cherished grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by parents Veronica and Daniel Westcott, brothers Richard (Darlene) and Michael (Karla) Westcott, and beloved aunts and uncles Martha Goetsch, Edwin Haehlke, Goldie Walters (Haehlke), Regina Witt (Haehlke), and Henry Haehlke.

A funeral service will be held Monday, November 14th at Holy Name of Jesus, 1104 S. 9th Ave, Wausau. Visitation will be from 9-11am with a mass at 11am. Burial will take place at Restlawn Memorial Cemetery, 4710 North Troy Street, Wausau. The family would like to thank the staff at Aspirus CTU for their compassionate care of Jackie and extend a special thank you to social worker Kevin and the caring staff at Mount View Rehab Services.

John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting family at this time.  Online condolences may be expressed at HonorOne.com