Mrs. Mercedes Jane Vander Kelen

Mer was an out of the ordinary person so her story will match. Mercedes Jane Bernadette Jacobsen Vander Kelen arrived on this earth moving to the front of the line on March 3, 1921. Her parents, Arthur Hans Jacobsen and Barbara Gertrude Rothe Jacobsen created a wonderful and loving middle class home for her and her younger sister Gwen. She studied boys at Green Bay East High School graduating in the class of 1939 with her war hero future husband Millard Alfred Vander Kelen. They tied the knot on April 15, 1945, during a short leave Mill took from his patriotic duties. After the war, they eventually settled back in Green Bay where Mill became a fireman and started a credit union for his colleagues. Mer, having worked many office jobs after high school helped with the credit Union book work. They studied biology together for 10 long years and finally passed their final exam with the birth of their son, Paul David ( he was so glad they were good Catholics when they named him)! After retiring, they continued their travels to all points of the compass, but ending each trip as snowbirds in Florida. Sometimes their routes took them to watch nephews and nieces sporting events and concerts or visiting Air Force museums from the big war. A direct route to Florida was never in the plans. They sold their Florida home in 1997 to come back to Green Bay permanently. Mom’s favorite sport - betting on the Packers - was starting to payoff. Millard had a stroke on All Saints’ Day 1997 and departed in February 1998 without ever regaining any semblance of good health. This loss set her free and she received really enjoyed her friends and neighbors and in the early days of cell phones hers wasn’t to provide a measure of safety but rather to find where she was - and she was never lost. She ran errands for her son’s practice, babysat her grand dogs and mostly was first in line to do whatever she wanted to do. In 2007 a small stroke robbed her of her short term memory and her driving privileges. She moved into the same facility her mother had so wonderfully been taken care of in, Woodside Manor. She resided there until her passing on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dr Paul and Nancy, along with their fur baby, Shelby. Her Goddaughter/ niece Patti Berger and her husband Jim. Sister-in-Law Carol and Nieces Mary Kay, Ann, Patty, Jenifer and Nephews Mike, Dan, Tom and Tim. She was predeceased by her parents and husband, her sister and brothers-in-law and a nephew. Mer’s celebration of life will be at her home parish that she missed dearly the last couple of years, St. Francis Xavier Cathedral on Monroe Avenue. Green Bay. On Friday December 2nd. Visitation from 9:30 to 11:00am. Mass at 11:00am with Fr. Brian Belongia celebrating. We thank you in advance for your thoughts to send flowers, but due to extreme allergies please refrain. Consider a donation to someone in need this holiday season. A special thanks to Bob Charles for his friendship and overwatch of Mer at Woodside and the many caregivers who always treated Mer with dignity and respect. Thank you also to the caring people of Unity Hospice, especially nurses Sam and Kevin. Also, a warm note of appreciation to the Deering family for being there for mom when I couldn't~ your kindness will never be forgotten. Paul

Mrs. Mercedes Jane Vander Kelen

March 3, 1921 - November 29, 2022