Mary Jane Melland

Mary Jane Melland, 89, of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 11 at Augusta Health and Rehabilitation in Augusta, WI.

She was born June 20, 1935 to the late Bennie and Myrtle (Johnson) Nelson and grew up in Eau Claire. She graduated from Eau Claire Senior High School in 1953 and in the years that followed she worked at the paper mill and later enjoyed co-workers and folks she met working at a fast-food restaurant. Along the way she met Bob Melland and they were married September 22, 1956 at Grace Lutheran Church.

Through the years they were blessed with four children and eventually precious grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They always enjoyed supporting the young ones in their activities; even after Bob passed in 2000, she was always there to watch and cheer.

She often recalled a memory of when she and her sisters went to Minneapolis the day after Thanksgiving to shop, have fun, and do some Santa stuff. They were always happy to be together. Mary Jane and Bob were always gracious through both tears of sadness and of joy and in the good times. Mary Jane would be happy to be remembered through the acts of kindness we show to others.

Mary Jane is survived by her sons, Robert, Jr. and Ronald (Ruby); son-in-law, Brian Hanson; grandchildren, Cory (Jennifer) Hanson, Kaylene Hanson (Tony Iverson), and Madison Melland; two great-grandchildren; sisters, Bev (Jim) Page and Bonnie (Dan) Roth; many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; daughters, Becky and Debbie; great-granddaughter, Amber Melland; and brother, Virgil Nelson.

Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. on Friday, December 20 at Evergreen Funeral Home (off Golf Road one block east of Hwy. 93) with nephew, Pastor Jim Page, officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Rest Haven Cemetery, Town of Washington, Wisconsin. Evergreen Funeral Home is serving the family.

To send your condolence or share a memory with Mary Jane's family, please visit our obituaries at evergreenfuneralhome.com.