Funeral services for Mary Jane Hecht, 82, of Estherville, were held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec.11,2024, at Estherville Lutheran Church with Pastor Tim Johnson officiating. Interment was at Estherville Lutheran Cemetery, Estherville. She passed away at her home in Spirit Lake on December 7, 2024. While we wanted to keep her forever, she needed to be with the love of her life, so her calling came at age 82, just two weeks after the passing of her husband of 65 years.
Visitation was Tuesday at the Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel in Estherville.
Mary Jane (Linn) Hecht, daughter of Wilhelm and Ruth Linn, was born on February 25, 1942.
Mary Jane was a member of the Estherville Lutheran Church. She was united in marriage to Russell Hecht on October 17, 1959, at the Salem Lutheran Church in Jackson, Minnesota. Mary Jane and Russ lived briefly in St Paul, Minnesota before moving back to Estherville to make their home. Mary Jane liked to share that she began work at the telephone office. As she and Russ grew their family, alongside raising 6 children of their own, she was also a loving in-home daycare provider to neighbor kids and others in the house she and Russ built together. For a brief period, she worked at the Estherville hospital, but a job opening caught her eye that would lead her back to her love for nurturing kids and she became a certified Head Start teacher for 12 years.
Mary Jane and Russ began a long run of what she called “vacation every day” selling “Old Hat Antiques” from their basement to later operating one of the most wonderful antique stores in NW Iowa, called “Highway 9 Antiques.” “The shop” was both their pride and joy for 25 years.
She was a talented organist and made amazing quilts and treasured sewing projects. She enjoyed birdwatching, growing flowers, playing countless card games, and, of course, playing with the many grandchildren. Above all, she selflessly provided unwavering love, support, and encouragement every single day for her family.
Mary Jane is survived by her children Kathy (Kevin) Zinn of Lake Park, Jeff Hecht (Crystal Nissen) of Estherville, Becky (Bill) Hanson of Riverside, Greg (Molly) Hecht of Estherville, and Shelley (Kevin) Miller of Spirit Lake. She left a loving legacy of 15 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Judy (Allan) Duhn of Griswold, Robert (Theresa) Linn of Sioux City, and Deb (Roger) Sorenson, Estherville.
Mary Jane was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Russell, her parents, Wilhelm and Ruth Linn, and her son Brian Hecht.
Online condolences may be left for Mary’s family at HenryOlsonFuneral.com
