Mary Meissner

The Meissner and Rydeen families mourn the loss of Mary Jane (Rydeen) Meissner who died at the age of 86 early Wednesday morning, December 16, at Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater. A beautiful woman and a powerful force in the lives of her large family, her passing leaves a void for the many people who were the beneficiaries of her care and love over the course of her long and happy life.

Born Mary Jane Rydeen on June 13, 1923, she passed a happy childhood on a dairy farm north of Stillwater with her beloved siblings Norma (Johnson), Howard (Bud), and Glorianne (Benson). In 1949 she married returning World War II veteran Earl Meissner (34th Infantry Division) and they settled in Stillwater, where they raised their five children: Dennis (Debi), Kevin (Carol), Karen (Myren Cowles), Diane Vredeveld, and Wayne. Her children, as well as her daughters- and sons-in-law, all know themselves to be blessed by her rich and rare love, and that same feeling was inherited by her thirteen grandchildren (Danielle, Kelly, Annie, Mitchell, Jason, Libby, Amy, Lucy, Emily, Tristan, Jay, Ginelle, and Charlie). She went on to become a much beloved great-grandmother to Cole, Lilliana, Hunter, Kennedy, Brynn, and Atticus. Over the years, she embraced a large extended family.

Mary was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church community, and was a longtime and equally active member of the Stillwater area Homemakers' Club.

A memorial service will be conducted on Monday morning, December 21, 11:00, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater. It will be preceded by a visitation of family and friends on Sunday evening, December 20, 6-8, at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Stillwater. People wishing to do so are encouraged to make memorial gifts in her name to charities of their choice.