Jane Rudolf, 88, formerly of Owatonna

Jane Jeanette (Buenzow) Rudolf, age 88, died Sunday, March 16, 2025, in the SpringHills Memory Care Unit, in Middletown, Ohio.

Jane was born in Minneapolis on Aug. 6, 1936, and adopted by Fred and Ida Buenzow, through Lutheran Social Services.

Jane was baptized on Oct. 13, 1936, in Minneapolis, and confirmed at Mansfield Lutheran Church east of Kiester in 1949. She attended her first eight grades in a rural school – District 81 and graduated from Kiester High School in Kiester in 1954. She attended Wartburg College (1954-1955) in Waverly, Iowa, and graduated from Lowthian College in Minneapolis with an associate degree in Fashion Merchandising.

On June 3, 1955, Jane and Russell Rudolf were united in marriage at Mansfield Lutheran. They lived in Dubuque, Iowa; Wilmette, Ill.; Madison; San Diego; Raymond and Mankato, prior to moving to Owatonna in February 1967.

Jane was a volunteer with the Hospital Auxiliary, “Meal on Wheels,” and for more than 50 years a member of the Woman’s Club of Owatonna, serving on a number of committees including the Charity Ball. She was a member of the Owatonna City Planning Commission for six years and the Valparaiso University Guild in Valparaiso, Indiana. Jane enjoyed cooking and baking, decorating their home, reading books and magazines, attending spiritual pipe organ, choral, college music concerts, and sporting events, walking, and shopping.

Jane’s working career included positions at Rosheks Department Store and B & G Auto in Dubuque, Iowa, and Duffy's Fairway in Kiester and Owatonna. After graduating from Lowthian College, she became the college representative, recruiting students in North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. She also enjoyed her work at Harold Department Store in Minneapolis, Maidenform, and the Gainey Conference Center.

Jane was preceded in death by her infant sister Joanne, her parents Fred William Buenzow and Ida Emma (Lamprecht) Buenzow, and husband, Russell Rudolf.

Survived by sons, Thomas (Michele), Middletown, Ohio; Peter (Sherry), Corcoran, Minn.; grandchildren, Christopher (Rachel), Tullahoma, Tenn.; Alexandra (Angel), Chicago; Zachary, Shakopee; two great grandchildren, Henry and Lily.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church, 1301 Lincoln Ave., Owatonna. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Interment will be at Mansfield Lutheran Church Cemetery, Mansfield, at 3 p.m. following the funeral service at St. John.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota (https://donate.lssmn.org/page/6513/donate/1), St. John Lutheran Church Foundation, Owatonna, (https://www.stjohnowatonna.org/Gift-Options), or Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa (https://www.wartburg.edu/devoffice).

Michaelson’s Funeral Home of Owatonnan is handling the funeral arrangements.