Mary Peterson

VISITATION :

10 - 11 a.m., Saturday, May 18 at Chippewa Valley Bible Church, 531 E. South
Ave., Chippewa Falls

SERVICE:

11 a.m., Saturday, May 18 at Chippewa Valley Bible Church, 531 E. South Ave., Chippewa Falls

Mary Jane Peterson, 70, of Chippewa Falls went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at her residence.

She was born February 4, 1943 in Chippewa Falls to Ferne Clara (nee Crowell) and George Everette Steele. She was raised in Chippewa Falls where she attended Notre Dame Grade School and graduated from McDonell High School in 1961.

Mary Jane married Bernard Bernie Sturz on February 4, 1963 in Stillwater, Minn. and moved to Illinois after their marriage. While residing in Waukegan, Ill. they were blessed with the birth of their son, Matthew John. After her husbands death in 1980, she and her son, Matthew moved back to the Chippewa Valley in 1981. She then attended Chippewa Valley Technical College where she earned an Associate Degree in Medical Transcription. She was employed at Combined Nursing Services at the Eau Claire County Court House and then at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire and Bloomer, until retiring due to her health.

Mary Jane married Wylie Ira Peterson on June 29, 1999 in Stillwater, Minn. They resided in the Colfax area where they loved baking bread and raising Pekingese puppies. They enjoyed much traveling, fishing, camping, biking, antiquing and dancing. Wylie preceded her in death on December 4, 2006.

Mary Jane was an avid quilter and was a member of Stitching Pals which meets at the Chippewa Falls Senior Center. She loved to knit and crochet. During quiet time she loved to read. She enjoyed swimming at Americinn in Chippewa Falls every morning she was able. One of her favorite things was to make all her Christmas presents, which she started as a young child. She was able to share her love of quilting with the residents at Wissota Springs Assisted Living until her illness.

She was a member of Chippewa Valley Bible Church. She attended many bible studies and was a much loved member of her church family. She shared her faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior whenever the opportunity arose. God gave her the wonderful gift of listening to people who just needed to talk. She was great at not forcing advice but just giving you her ear.

Survivors include: her son, Matthew John Sturz; a bother (misspelling intentional), Rodney Rod (Cathy) Steele; step-mother, Evelyn; a niece, Melinda (Tyler) Hanson and their three children, Blake, Julia and Chase; a nephew, Ryan Steele; her dear aunt, Delaine (Robert) Moore; her close friends, Therese Terri and Curt Clausing and Patricia Pat and Harold Saxon, Carole Sturz and Marti Ferger, as well as many other friends and cousins. She is also survived by her dear little dog, Spice.

She was preceded in death by: her mother, Ferne (Crowell) Steele; her father, George Everette Steele; her husbands, Bernard Bernie Sturz and Wylie Ira Peterson.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 18 at Chippewa Valley Bible Church, Chippewa Falls with Pastor Jim Woldhuis officiating. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery, Chippewa Falls.

Visitation will be on hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.

AFTERSERVICE:

A funeral service for Mary Jane Peterson, 70, of Chippewa Falls was held at 12 p.m., Saturday, May 18 at Chippewa Valley Bible Church, Chippewa Falls. Pastor Jim Woldhuis officiated and music was provided by Bev Woldhuis, Monique Woods, Ann Richmond, Travis Haley, Brian Cole and the Chippewa Valley Bible Church Music Department. Personal reflections were given by friends, Terry Clausing and Stuart Krause. Interment was in Hope Cemetery, Chippewa Falls.