Obituary of Mary Willenbring

Surviving are 3 daughters: Elaine Sulentic of Waterloo, Iowa, Ann (Lyle) McQuillen of Dubuque, Iowa and Grace (Dave) Pins of Farley, Iowa; 2 sons: Allen (Pat) Willenbring of Dubuque, Iowa and Jerry (Kay) Willenbring of Cannon Falls, Minn.; 13 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, a son-in-law, Ron Sulentic, 4 brothers: Joseph in infancy, Arnold, Carl and Melvin Kluesner, 3 brothers-in-law: Norbert, Sylvester W. and Cyril W. Willenbring, and 3 sisters-in-law: Hilda Menke, Marie Clemen and Evelyn Demmer. Mary Jane was born November 11, 1923, in Holy Cross, Iowa the daughter of Leo and Hedwig (Koch) Kluesner. She attended and graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy in Dubuque in 1941. On October 10, 1945, she married Frank C. Willenbring in Holy Cross, Iowa. Together they farmed in the Luxemburg area until 1971 when they moved to Dyersville. He preceded her in death on October 16, 1993. While in Dyersville, Mary Jane worked at the former Piekenbrock Sewing Company for 25 years. She was a volunteer at Mercy Medical Center in Dyersville, and it's Auxiliary, and was a member of the Order of Martha. In her spare time she enjoyed cooking and baking, especially making hosts at the Basilica. Mary Jane Willenbring, 84, of Dyersville, Iowa went home to be with Jesus Saturday, August 16, 2008, after a sudden illness. Friends may call from 2 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2008, at the Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville where an Order of Martha Rosary will be recited at 3 p.m. and a parish scripture service will be held at 4 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 20, 2008, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville with burial in the church cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Phil Kruse.