Jane Totzke

1933 - 2025

Jane Harriet Hardy was born August 1, 1933 in Granite Ledge Township to parents, Emil and Alma Hardy. She had a twin brother Jim. She was part of a large family consisting of eight girls, Violet, Gladys, Evelyn, Lillian, Rose, Lorraine and Millie. She had eight brothers, Ray, Lawrence, Bill, Clarence, Donnie, Jim, Melvin, and Bob. Jane attended O'Neil country school through 8th grade.

After completing school, she helped her mother work at home on the farm. She babysat for many local families and worked in Milaca. Jane married Elmer Totzke on November 1, 1952. They lived in Minneapolis briefly and she worked at Land O'Lakes. They moved to the Totzke family farm in Foreston and raised their children Debra, Daryl and Donald. In 1982, they left farming and moved to Princeton.

Jane was a homemaker and loved to bake. Fresh bread and cinnamon rolls were her specialty. She could easily cook for a large crowd and loved to make a full meal and pies and cakes for the neighborhood silo filling crew. She loved bright flowers and gardening. She canned many types of fruits and vegetables each year. It goes without saying that Jane was a fastidious housekeeper! No dust in her house!

Jane traveled a bit; she went by train to New Jersey to Fort Monmouth to visit Elmer while he was in the Army. She flew to California to see her sister, Rose. It took weeks for her to work up the courage to buy the airplane ticket. In later years, Jane and Elmer drove out to Montana to visit their son, Don, many times. They loved the mountains.

When asked what one of her favorite childhood memories were she said, "Playing softball out in the hayfield in the summers with my brothers and sisters- we had enough kids for a whole team!"

Jane passed away Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

Survived by children, Debra Van Donsel (Mike), Don Totzke; brother, Melvin Hardy; grandchildren, Stephanie Wolfe, Josh Van Donsel (Mayra) and Sarah Van Donsel; great-grandchildren, McKenzy, Louis, Valeria, Penelope, Marion, Nora, Adeleena, Oakley and Easton; great-great-grandchildren, Violet and Waylon; also by many other relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by parents, Emil and Alma Hardy; husband, Elmer Totzke; son, Daryl Totzke; grandson, Nick Van Donsel and many brothers and sisters.

Memorial services were held Monday, October 6, 2025 at Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca. Interment followed at Forest Hill Cemetery.