Mary Jane Kresie

Mary Jane Kresie, 92, of Topeka, passed away on March 24, 2018 at Midland Care Hospice.

Mary Jane Kresie was born July 11, 1925 in Junction City, daughter of Samuel "Pete" and Ethel (McCluskey) Harris. She was nicknamed "Irish" by her father because of their heritage and her red hair.

From kindergarten through eighth grade she attended, Prairie Cottage School, District 79, a one-room schoolhouse. She graduated in 1943 from Dickinson County Community (Chapman) High School, where she was a majorette and greatly involved in 4H.

After high school Mary Jane worked in a Junction City jewelry store. She then moved to Topeka to work in the offices of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company, aka "Santa Fe Offices", working there until their first child was born in 1950. While living in Topeka Mary Jane shared an apartment with her three cousins, whom she greatly enjoyed and appreciated especially since she did not have sisters.

Mary Jane married Carl "Knute" Kresie on August 15, 1948 in the First Presbyterian Church, Topeka, KS. They soon moved from Topeka to a home near Knute's parents' farm outside Auburn, KS. In 1963 they built their house in Topeka where they lived almost 50 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Ben and Bill Harris and husband Knute.

Family meant everything to Mary Jane! She was an excellent, loving wife and mother. She cherished raising her four children: Karl Knute (Sung-Un), Jan Kresie Barger (Terry), Sharon Kresie Schenewerk (Roger), Annette Kresie Evanson, (Doug). Mary Jane dearly loved her eight grandchildren: Scott Kresie; John and Keelan Barger; Audrey Schenewerk (Dennis Heaton); Grant Schenewerk (Ashley); Leigh Schenewerk; Garrett and Ben Evanson.

Mary Jane was an avid natural gardener, and especially loved her wildflowers and roses! She was an excellent baker, cook and skilled seamstress. She completed seven lessons in tailoring and dressmaking and sewed clothes for her daughters, mother and self, including sewing her own wedding dress.

She and Knute joined Trinity Presbyterian around 1963 to be with Knute's brother Bryce and Mary Kresie and their children. Mary Jane loved Trinity. She served on the Session several times, the building addition committee, the hospitality/reception (kitchen) committee and the nursery. She taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School and was a member of the Rebecca Circle. She was also a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader. She and Knute helped start the first Boy Scout troop in Auburn, which is still active.

Mary Jane also worked for the Menninger Family Care Program starting in 1974, for about 19 years, fostering and parenting young adults living in their home every year, as they transitioned from the hospital to the community.

Mary Jane and Knute valued a high quality education, and provided an abundance of books, encyclopedias, magazines and newspapers. The love of learning and study were highly encouraged. Mary Jane always enjoyed reading and learning. In 1977, she completed the "Four Years Through the Bible" Menninger Bible Study Course. She especially loved reading extensively to her children and grandchildren, starting when they were very young. Over the years she donated many children's books.

Along with education, Mary Jane and Knute both valued physical fitness. Mary Jane, exercised to the "Jack LaLanne Show", jogged and biked into her late 60's, then exercised at a gym into her late 80's. Her gym friends would comment on how inspiring it was that she would enthusiastically complete the class, including all the push-ups, well into her 80's. Her "can do" and "you can do it" attitude positively influenced and greatly encouraged those around her. She was a strong woman in so many ways.

The last two years Mary Jane lived with Jan and her family on the Kresie farm. Even into the last weeks of her life, she took her daily walks up and down the lane and around a field, or during inclement weather did exercise videos or walked inside. Staying active, being helpful, caring for, encouraging, connecting and loving the people around her were key elements of each day of Mary Jane's life. She will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 30, 2018 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4746 SW 21st St, Topeka, KS 66604. The family will greet friends after the service. Private graveside services will take place at Mount Hope Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Presbyterian Church or Midland Care, 200 SW Frazier Cir, Topeka, KS 66606.

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