Mary Nepp

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Mary J. Nepp, 73
Mary Jane Nepp, 73, of Austin died on March 1, 2009 at her home in Austin.
Mary Jane Kelly was the seventh child of eight born to Roy and Hazel (Griffith) Kelly on March 2, 1935 in Esterville, Iowa. She graduated from Austin High School in 1954. Being young and a free spirit she tried modeling school and went on several adventures with her girlfriends, including a trip to California. The summer of ‘54 she walked barefoot into Austin Drug and met her future husband, Howard Nepp. They started dating in 1955 and were married on Aug. 11, 1957 in what was, at the time, the new Westminster Presbyterian Church in Austin. A family of four children soon followed, which became the focus and love of her life. She was a gentle soul and generous to all whether as a daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother or grandmother. While raising her family she worked at the family business, Austin Drug, as the bookkeeper for over 10 years. Mary was very creative. She painted, created stage sets and costumes, sewed, gardened, threw great parties and in later life pursued writing. Her most recent accomplishment was a published fictional children’s story. Mary was deeply religious and a member of Westminster all her life. She was a deacon and taught Sunday school for many years. She always wanted to be a minister and obtained an Associate of Ministerial Studies from Freelandia Bible College & Seminary in 1989. Her spiritual strength through her illness gave her comfort and strength as well as to all those close to her. She will be missed greatly by her husband, family and friends.
Mary is survived by her husband, Howard E. Nepp, Austin;  sons, James Nepp and partner Larry Fonnest, Golden Valley, Minn., Daniel (Lisa) Nepp, Minneapolis, Minn., Douglas (Barbara) Nepp, Stillwater, Minn.; daughter, Calleen (Curt) Friedel, San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren, Ashley, Andrew and Austen Nepp, Caleb Ackerson, Graham Nepp; brothers, Kenneth and (Elnora) Kelly, Austin, Jerald (Anne) Kelly, Austin, Richard (Charlene)  Kelly, Austin; sister, Shirley (Don) Erickson, Austin; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Claude and Eugene “Lefty” Kelly and sister Elline Kelly.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, March 5, 2009 at Westminster Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Dr. Andrew Lindahl officiating. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be no reviewal at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Westminster Presbyterian Church or to ProLife Across America, P.O. Box 18669, Minnespolis, MN  55418-0669. The organist will be Darlene Berhow with soloist will be Jeff Kelly.
The honorary bearers will be Bill Kelly, Jeff Kelly, Kenny K. Kelly, Mike Kelly and Tom Kelly. The casket bearers will be Rande Kelly, Harlen Nepp, Brian Kelly, Dale Nepp, Leif Erickson and Craig Nepp.

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