Mary Jane Schmidt entered Eternal Life Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, at the age of 71. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Beloved wife of the late Donald, loving mother to Sue Rae, Dale (Peggy), Steve, the late Jeffrey and Brian. Proud grandmother to Vanessa and Elliott, Amanda and Alyssa, Shanna (Andres), Shelby and Trent. And one great-granddaughter who she adored, Ella Rae. The two of them loved to eat oatmeal for breakfast at the kitchen table. And make and frost her molasses cookies. She is further survived by her brother, Earl Kornetzky, Green Bay; her sisters, Erla Reiss, Sheboygan Falls, Florance Motycka, Sarasota, Fla.; in-laws, Art Schmidt, Whitelaw; Eugene (Betty) Schmidt, Brillion; Paul (Beverly) Schmidt, Manitowoc; John Schmidt, Manitowoc; Everilda Tarbox, Manitowoc; Mary Ann (Ronald) Kuusisto, Menasha; and Ruth Schmidt, Silver Cliff; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides her parents and husband, Donald, she was preceded in death by two sons, Jeffrey and Brian Schmidt, brother-in-law, Loyle Schmidt and a sister-in-law, Norma Behnke.

Mary Jane was born Aug. 16, 1940, in Green Bay. She is the daughter of the late Earl and Norma Haese Kornetzky. She attended school at St. Joseph Catholic School in Green Bay and in Wayside.

On July 26, 1958, she was united in marriage to Donald W. Schmidt at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Green Bay. They were married for 49 years before Donald preceded her in death on Sept. 3, 2007.

After the children were grown she pursued the nursing field. She worked at Plymouth Hospital, and retired from Rocky Knoll in 2000, after 25 years of service with them. She did what she knew and loved best.

Mary Jane and Donald enjoyed taking the family and their cats up to their second home in Marinette County. They would spend the weekends at the boat landing with family and friends. They loved to be "up north" in the woods. Sitting by firepits with the extended family in the evenings created many memories. She enjoyed seeing old friends return every summer for the garage sales on their property.

Mary Jane loved to garden, tulips were her favorite flower. She always seems to be tending to her flowers.

She was a seamstress. She enjoyed working with new brides and their attendants. She sewed many wedding attire. Quilting was also a favorite pastime. Each of her children has hand-made quilts. She also enjoyed her morning coffee with Muffy and Tuffy at the kitchen table. Her two cats will miss her greatly.

Her forte was baking awesome Christmas sugar cookies, which is Lorraine's recipe, with the children during the holidays.

Private family graveside services will take place in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Plymouth.