Mary Jane Klebesadel

Mary Jane Klebesadel passed away peacefully at home August 24, 2024, just a month before her 94th birthday. Mary Jane is preceded in death by her husband, Leslie “Buzz” Klebesadel (December 2011), and is the loving mother of 5 children and their spouses, Lani, Dan (Janet), Jim (Lindell), Bill (Lucy), and Tom, and loving grandmother to 9 grandchildren, Amy, Shant (Justin), Dylan, Morgan, Rayanne, Jenni, Hannah, Dani and Emma.

Mary Jane (formerly Kleinheinz), was born in Madison Wisconsin Sept 27, 1930 where she is survived by her older sister, Janet Whelan, and preceded in death by her younger brother Richard. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison where she met her future husband Buzz due to being seated alphabetically in physics class. In 1955, after a couple years as a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines, she and Buzz married. That ended her flying career since one wasn’t allowed be both a stewardess and married. In 1957, they drove their new ’57 Chevy wagon up the Alcan to begin and spend their lives in the idyllic community of Palmer, Alaska.

Mom was a familiar face in the Palmer community and always had that enduring smile that would brighten anyone’s day. For more than 3 decades, Mom was the face of the Palmer Pioneer Home to all residents and visitors where she worked in the front office. One couldn’t come or go without seeing her smiling greeting. When the Palmer Community College was first established in 1958, she volunteered as the first registrar while Buzz was its first president. Once all 5 children were of school age, she began volunteering in the Swanson school library and as a playground monitor where many of Palmer’s adults met her in their youth.

Mom had a passion for travel, having been a stewardess and honeymooning at Waikiki and even venturing on her own to Papua New Guinea. She instilled the love travel in her children. Many cruises, trips to Europe, Central America, Hawaii and the Cook Islands later, she often encouraged us to “travel now while you can.”

We miss Mom greatly, but take comfort in knowing she has reunited with Dad and her heavenly family. Thank you for your loving care, Mom.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 PM at the Palmer United Protestant Church Saturday Aug. 31.