December 15, 1925 – October 22, 2022
Information provided by Smits Funeral Home
Mary Jane Winter, age 96, entered heaven to live eternally with her Lord and Savior on October 22, 2022. She was born December 15, 1925, to George and Jennie Molenhouse. On June 14, 1944, she married Kenneth VanDerWal. They had three children, Judy, Shirley and Kenneth Jr. and raised their family in Munster, IN. Kenneth preceded her in death in 1980. She married Richard Winter in 1996 and lived in Lansing until his death in 2012. She resided in Village Woods for the last 4 years.
Mary Jane is survived by her children who will deeply miss her: Judy & Dave DeGraff and Ken & MariLou VanDerWal; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Barb VanKalker (Zeldenrust). She was preceded in death by her daughter Shirley Cook, grandson David Alan Degraff, sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Leroy Bateman, brother and sister-in-law Jack and Evelyn Molenhouse, and brother-in-laws Herm Zeldenrust and John VanKalker.
Mary Jane worked much of her life, being the owner of her jewelry store in Munster, and spending years at Gus Bock Hardware in Lansing in the gift department.
Visitation will be at Smits Funeral Home, 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane, Dyer, IN on October 30, 2022, from 2 – 4 p.m. with the funeral service immediately following at 4 p.m. with Pastor Mark Prestriedge officiating. Burial at Skyline Cemetery in Monee to take place Monday, October 31. Memorial contributions may be made to Tibstra House in care of Bethshan, 12927 Monitor Avenue, Palos Heights, IL 60463.
