Mary Ann Fels, 06 Jun 1929 - 10 Nov 2016

FELS, HAAS, OEHL, JAROSZ, WELSH, PLATNER, BUJALSKI, BRODARICK, GRIESS

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 11/16/2016 at 12:25:57

Funeral service for Mary Ann Fels, 87, Amana, will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Middle Amana Church. She died Nov. 10, 2016.

Elder Jon Childers will officiate at the service. Burial will be in the Amana Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Amana Community Church.

Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.

Mary Ann Fels was born June 6, 1929, in Amana, the daughter of John and Louise Oehl Haas. She graduated from the Amana Schools in 1947.

On October 23, 1948, she married George Fels in Amana. She worked at the Ox Yoke Inn and at the Amana Society Woolen Mill salesroom. Mary Ann was a lifelong member of the Amana Community Church. In 1975, she started and led a monthly service for residents at Colonial Manor. She was active in many community clubs and led Campfire Girls. She was the first person to bring change to the Amana Church weddings by wearing a white dress and having a big wedding.

Mary Ann enjoyed reading, playing bridge, gardening and volunteering. She loved traveling and meeting new people but more than anything, she loved Amana. She loved having her family and friends near, making her home a home. She was accepting of everyone and stayed positive when people needed a place to feel secure, and at peace, often just by her presence. She was always full of love and laughter.

Fels is survived by three children, Margo (John) Jarosz, Fairfax; Paula (Leonard) Welsh, Swisher, and Jason (Holly) Fels, Geneva, Ill.; grandchildren, Ben (Amanda) Welsh, Erin (Brent) Platner, Zachary (Jenna Bujalski) and Jessica (Robert Brodarick) Jarosz, Braden, Jack and Kaitlyn Fels.

She was preceded in death by her husband George in 1985; her parents and a sister, Betty Lou Griess.

The Journal Tribune, 16 Nov 2016
The Pioneer Republican, 16 Nov 2016
The Gazette, 12 Nov 2016, 12a