Mary Jane Dakken

Mary Jane (Peterson) Dakken, age 75 of Forest City, IA passed away peacefully, Thursday, December 22, 2016 at the Hancock Memorial Hospital in Britt, Iowa.

Private family services will be held at the funeral home. Upon her wishes, she was cremated and there will be no visitation.

Mary was born on June 24, 1941 in Lake Mills, Iowa, the daughter of Vernon and Bernice (Swenson) Peterson, she was raised in Lake Mills, where she has many relatives yet and where she met the love of her life, David... her high school sweetheart. She was married to David Ryan Dakken on June 21, 1959 at Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills, Iowa, to this union, three children; Rhonda, Todd and Timothy were born.

Mary and her family were proud when John K Hanson called Mary "the face of Winnebago" as she was the receptionist for general offices for many years.

Mary was a Master Gardner and very involved with Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City. She was active in two bridge clubs with dear lifelong friends. Mary was a proud mom, grandmother and great grandmother.

Mary's fun loving personality and sense of humor will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Mary was fortunate to spend many of her final days at home surrounded by her family.
Mary is survived by her husband, David of Forest City; children, Rhonda Dakken Clark and husband Timothy R Clark of Ventura, Iowa; their children, Sarah Dakken Johnson of Iowa City, MacKenzie Russell Clark of Philadelphia PA; Todd David Dakken and his wife Kimberly J (Hanson)Dakken of Forest City and their children, Katie (Matt) Hardy of Perry, Iowa, Megan (Grant) Fjetland of West Des Moines, Joe P. Dakken and special friend Dani Nygard of Ames Iowa; Timothy Jon Dakken and his wife Kim A. (Haugen) Dakken of Forest City and their son, Joshua Ryan Dakken of Iowa City, IA; great-grandchildren, Ella and Kellen Hardy and Will and Mila Fjetland; two sisters, Verna Mae Helgeson of Lake Mills, Iowa and Joan Hall and her husband Ron of Rochester, MN; brother-in-law, Dana Dakken; sister-in-law, Doris Peterson and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Bernice Peterson of Lake Mills; sister, Delores Porter and her husband, Woody and their daughter Ann Marie and brother- in-law, Kurtis Helgeson and his son Paul.

Any memorials received we would like directed to Hospice of North Iowa. Mary's family would like to especially thank their hospice support system Renee, Bon and Mary as well as the wonderful staff and their care at Hancock County Health Systems in Britt.