Mary Jean "Jeannie" Kroll

Mary Jean “Jeannie” Kroll, age 85, of Neillsville, WI, died Sunday, November 30, 2025, at House of the Dove hospice in Marshfield, WI.

Mary Jean Mabie was born on January 25, 1940, at the old hospital in Neillsville, WI, the daughter of Milo Ray and Leona Agnes (Chase) Mabie. As a child, Jeannie and her family moved to Washington state to be near her father, who was stationed there during World War II. They returned to Neillsville when Milo was honorably discharged. Jeannie graduated from Neillsville High School in 1958. On April 15, 1961, she was united in marriage to her classmate, Merlyn H. Kroll at the United Church of Christ in Neillsville. During this time, she was working for the new dentist in town, Dr. Roger Heineck, as an assistant. After Merlyn went to barber school in Milwaukee, the couple missed each other so much that Jeannie packed up and joined him. They returned to Neillsville one school year later in 1962, when Milo offered Merlyn a job as a barber. Early on Jeannie worked as a part-time secretary at the United Church of Christ. For the most part though, she was a full-time mother to their children until their youngest, Marianna, started school. Jeannie then began working as a teacher’s aide in the audio/visual department at the Neillsville School District in 1978. She worked there for 28 years before retiring in 2006.

Jeannie was a member of Holy Assumption Orthodox Church in Lublin, WI. She loved being in church and was devoted to her faith. She loved all the dogs she raised over the years. She enjoyed seeing the birds come back in the spring, reading, gardening, tending to her flowers, and the annual road trips with her sister, Kay to get flowers for the graves of all of their relatives.

She is survived by her husband, Merlyn; a son, V. Rev. Nathan David (Heidi) Kroll of St. Cloud, MN; a daughter, Marianna Marie Kroll of Stevens Point, WI; 7 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild; her beloved dog, Joey; a brother, Steve (Mary Jane) Mabie of Neillsville; and a sister, Kay Ivalis of Black River Falls, WI.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Milo and Leona Mabie; a son, Jonathan Steven Kroll; a sister and brother-in-law, Cheryl and James Holt; and a brother-in-law, Steven Ivalis.

Funeral Services for Jeannie will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. Fr. Nathan Kroll and Fr. Hermann Klarr will co-officiate the service. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., Saturday at Gesche Funeral Home

Online Condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Holy Assumption Orthodox Church, N1249 County Road F, Lublin, WI 54447 or the Clark County Humane Society, P.O. Box 127, Neillsville, WI 54456.

Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting Jeannie’s family with Funeral arrangements.