Obit: Engel, Jan M. (1953 - 2013)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Hedler, Engel, Firnstahl, Schraufnagel, McMahon, Becker, Hackel, Martineau, Weber, Scholl, Will

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 10 May 2013

Engel, Jan M. (3 NOV 1953 - 8 MAY 2013)

Jan Marie (Hedler) Engel, 59 of Dorchester passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Jan was born to Dolores (Firnstahl) and Donald Hedler on November 3, 1953. Jan went to and graduated from Saint Mary's School, Colby High School (class of 1971), and from North Central Technical College (Wausau) with a degree in Secretarial Science.

She was united in marriage to Dennis James Engel on September 21, 1974 at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Colby and officially became the most devoted (and prettiest) farm wife you ever saw. They went on to have three daughters; exactly what Jan wanted and lived her life for. This past September, Dennis and Jan celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary.

Jan enjoyed a successful work life having enjoyed positions at Hedler's Supermarket, Abbotsford State Bank, Mid-Wisconsin Bank, Stockwell Auctions, and the Hallmark Store. She was also a photographer and videographer for area weddings and graduations. She was an incredibly kind person who always served up the work she did with her trade mark pearly white smile.

The things that she loved were her Christian faith, country music concerts, caring for her horses, photography, walking in the country, biking, scrapbooking, taking fall trips with her sisters, and mowing her beautiful acres of lawn or tending to her numerous flower and vegetable gardens.

Above all she loved spending time with her family and especially her grandchildren, Robby, Reagan, Madisyn, and Kenadie. She took pride in making every holiday, birthday, or any occasion absolutely magical for them by decorating every corner of her house, preparing beautiful gifts, dressing them up in matching outfits, and memorializing these special moments in photos and videos.

Jan is survived by her devoted husband; Dennis, and her adoring daughters; Angela Engel (Travis Schraufnagel) of Colby, Kristin (Rob) McMahon of La Crosse, WI, Megan Engel (Nick Becker) of La Crosse, WI; nephew, Michael (Louise ) Hackel of Greenwood; her loving grandbabies; Reagan, Madisyn, Kenadie Schraufnagel, Robby McMahon; her proud parents; Donald and Dolores Hedler, her mother-in-law; Tootie Engel, and her four sisters; Judy (Richard) Martineau, Kim (Bob) Will, Laurie (Rick) Weber, and Donna (Curt) Scholl.

Jan was preceded in death by her father-in-law; LeRoy Engel and her nephew; Wesley Gay.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 11:00 am at Saint Louis Catholic Church in Dorchester. Father Dan Hackel will officiate. Burial will be in the Dorchester Memorial Cemetery. Lunch will be served immediately following burial. All are welcome to attend.

Family and friends are invited for visitation on Friday, May 10, 2013 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at Saint Louis Catholic Church in Dorchester with a rosary service at 4:00 pm and on Saturday from 9:30 am until time of services at the church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Jan Engel may be made to Saint Mary's School, 205 South Second Street, Colby, WI 54421. This is the school in which she attended, as well as her daughters, and now her grand-daughters.

The Engel family would like to thank the nurses and caregivers at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital and the warm staff at the House of Dove for the compassionate and loving care they gave to Jan. May God Bless You.

Maurina Schilling Funeral Home of Dorchester is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences can be made to www.maurinaschilling.com