Mary Jane Kroencke age 85, of Good Samaritan Home, formerly of Liberty, IL died on Friday, January 25, 2008 at 11:22 p.m. in Blessing Hospital. She was born November 1, 1922 in Clayton, IL a daughter of Robert S. And Elsie M. (Seckman) Bennett. She married Earl Kroencke on December 1, 1945 in Hannibal, MO, he died January 24, 1975.

Mary Jane was a 1940 graduate of Clayton High School and was her class salutatorian.
She was a 1943 graduate of St. Mary’s School of Nursing. Mary Jane then worked at the former St. Mary Hospital as a surgical nurse. After her children were born, she became a full-time mother and homemaker.

She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Liberty.
Mary Jane had been a member of the Adams County Homemakers; she was a Red Cross volunteer and a Blessing Tea Room volunteer. She liked to cook, talk on the phone and most of all, she enjoyed her family. She was also an avid Cub baseball fan.

Survivors include her children, two sons, Robert “Bob” Kroencke and his wife Joyce and Brad Kroencke and his wife Cheryl all of Liberty; a daughter, Barbara Kestner and her husband Brad of Clayton, IL; grandsons, Jeff Kroencke and his wife Raquel of Quincy; Bret Kroencke and his wife Janet of Champaign, IL; Jason Kroencke of Liberty; Mark Kroencke of Elgin, IL;Andy and Adam Kestner of Clayton, IL; three great grandchildren, Jacob Kroencke of Quincy and Kate and Nick Kroencke of Champaign, IL. Nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and a brother Donald Bennett.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. in
Zion Lutheran Church in Liberty, by the Rev. David Poland. Interment will be in Quincy Memorial Park. Visitation will be Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. atDuker & Haugh Funeral Home, Quincy.
Memorials are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church or to Blessing Hospice.