Mary Dahmen

WAUNAKEE - Mary Jane (Adler) Dahmen, age 86, passed away on Monday, May 2, 2016 at the Waunakee Manor Health Care Center after battling cancer for the past seven years.

Mary Jane was born on November 8th, 1929, to Michael Jr. and Annie (Annen) Adler. The oldest of five daughters, she and her sisters lived in a log cabin in Martinsville with no electricity or plumbing until she graduated from high school. She attended St. Martin's Catholic Grade School and graduated from Middleton High School in 1948. Mary Jane married Richard (Dick) Dahmen on November 25th, 1950, at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Martinsville. They moved to Middleton where Mary Jane worked for the Middleton Fair Trade Store and raised their family in the home they built together. Later, she began working for Gimbel's in the Hilldale Shopping Mall (then Marshall Field's and now Macy's) where she retired after 35 years. Mary Jane and Dick moved to Waunakee in 2000.

Mary Jane enjoyed bowling, playing cards, shopping and cheering on the Packers, Badgers and Brewers. She and Dick especially enjoyed the many wonderful trips they took with family and friends in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and the British Isles. She will be remembered for her sense of style, neatness and organization. Her love of life contributed to many happy and enjoyable memories, especially with the Wednesday noon lunch bunch. Mary Jane was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a friend to all.

Mary Jane will be lovingly missed by her husband of 65 years, Dick, and their children, Linda Meier, Lori Wandschneider, and Randy (Julie) Dahmen, all of Waunakee. She is further survived by her grandchildren, Mike (Carrie) and Mandi Meier; Jamie (Sean) Krassow, Bryan Meyer and Ali Wandschneider; Kara, Kyle and Kim Dahmen; great-grandchildren, Lexi and Kam Meier; Cayden and Cailee Krassow; sisters, Dolores (Bernie) Zimmer, Laura (Roger) Hollfelder and Alice Zander; in-laws, Doris (Johnson) Smith, Bob (Anneliese) Dahmen, Lew (Mary Lynn) Dahmen, Anna (Bob) Johnson and Helen Hurtgen. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Rita; brothers-in-law, Mike Zander and Jim Johnson; and son-in-law, Rich Wandschneider.

The family wishes to express gratitude for their guidance and support to Dr. Greg Sheehy, Dr. Mariah Quinn, Dr. Tracy Downs, Nurse Susan Benck and the entire UW Urology Dept. and all the staff at UW Hospital and Clinics. Also special thanks to the Agrace Hospice Care Blue Team, Nurse Joanna Anderson, and the Waunakee Manor Health Care Center staff.

A visitation will held on Monday, May 9th from 4:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. at Winn-Cress Funeral Home in Waunakee. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Middleton on Tuesday, May 10th at 11:00 A.M. with visitation at the church from 10:00 A.M. until the time of Mass. Rev. Brian Wilk will officiate. Private burial will be held at a later date.

Suggestions for memorials in Mary Jane's name may be made to the UW Paul Carbone Cancer Center or the UW Organ Transplant Procurement Program.

Winn-Cress Funeral Home
5785 Hwy Q
Waunakee, WI