Mary J. Waldner, 89, of Riverside Colony, died Friday, April 22, 2016 at her home.

Mary's funeral service will be at 2:00 pm on Monday, April 25th at Riverside Colony.

Mary was born August 9, 1926 at Bon Homme Colony, to John and Katie (Wipf) Grosz.  At the age of eight, they moved to the Rockport Colony where she was baptized and later married Sam J. Waldner on June 15, 1947.  They moved to the Riverside Colony in 1948 where she lived the rest of her life.  She served the colony as the head cook, Essenshule ankela, Kleine schul ankela.  She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren even more.

Mary is survived by her loving husband of 68 years, Sam J. Waldner, children, Sammy (Betty) Waldner, John (Susie) Waldner, Kathryn (Tom, deceased) Waldner, Edwin (Betty) Waldner, Rev. Kenneth (Eva) Waldner, Bennett (Susanna) Waldner, Moses (Lila) Waldner, Mary Ann (Alvin) Waldner, Alvin (Ruth) Waldner, Ernie (Eva) Waldner, Jonathan (Darla) Waldner, Sara (Norman) Waldner, 53 grandchildren; 110 great-grandchildren; one brother, Nat (Ruth) Grosz; and three special friends, Martha, Kandice and Ruth.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters; three brothers; four great-grandchildren; one son-in-law; one brother-in-law; and four sisters-in-law.