Mary Jane Clinker

Mary Jane Clinker age 87 of Dixon passed peacefully to be with our Lord Tuesday Jan. 3, 2017. Mary Jane was born Feb. 20, 1929 in Dixon the daughter of David E. and Kathryn (Coffey) Gardner. She married Charles W. Clinker in Dixon at St Patrick Catholic Church on May 27, 1950. He preceded her in death June 16, 2008. Mary Jane graduated from Mt. St. Mary Academy, St Charles, IL. She attended St Bernard's School of Nursing and Loyola University in Chicago. She graduated from KSB School of Nursing in 1952. She was a member of American Nurses Association, Illinois Nurses Association and the American Association of Mental Retardation. She was an active member of Dixon American Legion Auxiliary Post 12 for 60 plus years. She was a member St Anne Catholic Church and volunteered on several church committees. She was employed as a staff nurse for a year at KSB Hospital and as a Supervising Nurse and Unit Director at the Dixon Developmental Center until it closed. She then worked at the Elgin Mental Health Center until retirement in 1988. Her survivors include one son Charles David (Irene) Clinker of St Petersburg, FL, two grandsons Matthew Clinker and Michael Clinker Hardy and two great grandchildren Kenzy Clinker and Austin Clinker Hardy of Ocala, FL, brother in law George Rod Schroeder of Prophetstown. She was also preceded in death by one brother David Gardner and two sisters Rita Conroy and Sue Schroeder. Mary Jane was blessed with many fun loving and caring nieces and nephews. She always looked forward to spending time with them and attending family "Get Togethers". She is also survived by very special friends Bill, Karen, Bryan (Ciara), and Will Freres and David (Amy) Potter. Mary Jane enjoyed gardening, boating, sewing and traveling. She was an avid reader and enjoyed music. After retirement she and her husband spent 6 months in Florida and 6 months at their cottage on the Rock River for 14 wonderful years. Funeral services will be held on Monday Jan. 9, 2017 beginning with a 9:30 AM prayer service in the Jones Funeral Home followed by a 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial at St Anne Catholic Church with the Rev. Antoni Kretowicz officiating. Lunch will follow at the Dixon American Legion. Cremation will follow with burial of cremains at a later date at Oakwood Cemetery in Dixon. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 5:00 to 8:00 PM in the funeral home with the Rosary at 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers memorials have been established to St Anne School in Dixon, Heritage Square Retirement Center in Dixon, and VITAS Hospice in LaSalle, IL. The family of Mary Jane would like to extend loving thanks to all the staff at Heritage Square and VITAS Hospice for the loving care and support during her time at Heritage Square and her long illness. Special thanks to Margie Hansen and Michelle Gilbert.

Mary Jane Clinker

February 20, 1929 - January 3, 2017