I received the following letter from Ken Denny this morning. As some on the
list will know, I dealt with Jean's daughter to secure her medals, some
trophies, two World Champion Jerseys and much other stuff reflecting her
spectacular career. No doubt she would be much better known if she had been
a male racer.females seem to get a lot less recognition in cycling.
>From Ken:
It is with sadness that I report to you of Jeanne Omelenchuk's passing, who died Thursday of complications with Alzheimer's disease. Please pass this on to the CR group.
>From 1957 through 1965, Omelenchuk won 10 U. S. and North American speed
skating championships. She was the North American outdoor champion from 1957
through
1959 and in 1962 and 1963, the U. S. outdoor titlist in 1958, 1959, 1962, and 1965. She also won the U. S.
open outdoor championship in 1965.
She was also a world-class cyclist who won six national titles and raced in many events on the European circuit, including the Tour de France for women.
A member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, Omelenchuk was a speed skater on the 1960, 1968, and
1972 Winter Olympic teams. Her beloved husband, George, a respected tool and die maker, produced all of her cycles from his shop in Warren, Michigan, where they lived until George's death.
Funeral services will be held at Roth-Muir funeral home in Romeo, Michigan on Monday, June 30, at 2:00 pm. Other memorial arrangements in Jeanne's respect are being arranged.
Contributions made to the National Alzheimer's foundation will be respectfully appreciated.
Tom Sanders
Lansing, MI USA