Maryjane R. Birkholz

MASON CITY: Maryjane R. Birkholz, 71, of Mason City, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday May 2, 2014 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday May 6, 2014 at the Hanford Community Church located at 12411 Spruce Avenue, Mason City. Pastor Fred Lehman will be officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Elmwood St. Joseph Cemetery. There will be no visitation per her request. Memorials may be directed to Hanford Community Church. Maryjane was born March 9, 1943 in Council Bluffs, Iowa the daughter of Allen and Margaret (Straw) Broadbent. Her family later moved to Mason City in 1945. Maryjane graduated from Mason City High School in 1961 and from St. Joseph’s Mercy School of Nursing in 1964 with a Diploma in Nursing. Maryjane married the love of her life, Richard E. Birkholz, on June 5, 1964. They would have celebrated 50 years together this June. Maryjane stayed home to raise her girls until 1980. She then returned to the workforce where she worked as Director of Nursing at Americana Nursing Home for 12 years and as a staff nurse at Mercy Medical Center until her retirement in 2001. Maryjane was a long time member of Hanford Community Church. A few of her interests included spending time with her family, lively conversations around the campfire, fiercely competitive games of Scrabble, playing cards, fishing trips, vegetable and flower gardening, making homemade bread for her family and church events, and spending time with her pets. In recent years, her declining health kept her from many activities; however Maryjane cherished every moment spent with family and friends. Maryjane will be deeply missed by her husband Richard of Mason City, daughters; Lisa K (Monte) Santee of Albert Lea, Minnesota, Annette M. (Thomas) Thornblade of Mason City; 9 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Maryjane was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Barbara Jean Broadbent and Patricia Rasmussen, and her brother Keith Broadbent.