Mary Jane Wetenkamp -- Rochester

Published June 01, 2013 at 5:20 PM

ROCHESTER - A service commemorating the life of Mary Jane Wetenkamp, 92, will be held at Rochester Assembly of God Church on Wednesday, June 5, at 1 p.m. with the Revs. Bob Bernard, Phil Shaw and Bruce Kallies officiating. Mary Jane had been a patient at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester for three days suffering from congestive heart failure and pneumonia. She walked through Heavens Gates on Monday morning, May 27.

Mary Jane was born on Dec. 18, 1920, in Rochester, Minn., to Edward and Helen Dooley and was the great-granddaughter of Rochester's first fire chief, John Boylehart. She lived for a short time in Waukegan, Ill., as a young child but otherwise grew up in Rochester. She graduated from Rochester High School in 1939 and married her high school sweetheart, Elmer Wetenkamp, on May 16, 1942. They blissfully were married and an outstanding example of married life for 65 years before Elmer passed away in 2007. She and Elmer were very active in their church for more than 60 years in a wide variety of ways. She had an unflinching belief in the power of prayer and was on the church prayer chain for many, many years. "MJ" loved flower gardening, with roses being her favorite, and was a member of the Jackson & Perkins hybrid rose test panel for many years. She enjoyed being the church "flower lady" in charge of selecting and sending flowers for the church for many years. She also loved to cook and entertain. An invite to a meal at Elmer and Mary Jane's home was a recipe for an incredibly delicious meal, lots of laughter and great fellowship.

Mary Jane is survived by a daughter, Martha Steek (Kevin) of Stacy, Minn.; a son, Jonathan Wetenkamp (Tammy) of Rochester; eight grandchildren, Nicholas Steek (Leah), Christopher Steek (Ashley), Alison Steek, Jonathan Wetenkamp II, Daniel Wetenkamp, Seth Wetenkamp, Caleb Wetenkamp and Kristin Wetenkamp; four great-grandchildren, Spencer Steek, Colin Steek and Cameron Steek and Eleanor Steek; a brother, Ed Dooley of Austin, Minn.; and a sister, Elaine Bissen, of Austin, Minn. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; her parents; a brother-in-law, Ray Bissen; and sister-in-law, Gloria Dooley.

Visitation will be at Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 4, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

The family requests memorials be given to the missions ministries of New Life Worship Center or Rochester Assembly of God.