Mary Jean Engstrom, 90, of Hastings, surrounded by her family, passed away peacefully at her home on April 24, 2025.
She was born July 2, 1934 in Denmark Township - Hastings, MN to Peter and Marie (Mainz) Rohr, the 7th of 10 children. Growing up on a dairy farm made Mary Jean farm strong, a quality she held dear.
Mary Jean was a proud graduate of the Hastings High School class of 1952, where she served as a class officer and took pride in planning regular reunions with her classmates. Shortly after graduating she moved to California to help her sister with her family. There she began her professional career as an office assistant. When she returned to Minnesota she continued her career as an executive secretary at Great Northern Oil, now Koch Refinery. Her entrepreneurial spirit later led her to co-found and manage several successful businesses, including a fitness center, a welding company, rental properties, and Engstrom Construction Company.
On January 16, 1954, Mary Jean married John Engstrom in San Jose, California. The early years of their marriage were spent in California. They later moved back to Hastings and raised five children. Throughout their 68-year marriage they took the time to make great friends, travel, and spend time with family. They wintered in Arizona for 25 years where they created long-term friendships and memories.
Deeply rooted in her faith and community, Mary Jean was a co-founder of Hastings Family Service, a role that reflected her lifelong passion for helping others. She served as a school board member for the Hastings parochial school and devoted many hours volunteering at Oak Ridge Manor. Her spiritual life was equally rich—she was an active and beloved member of both St. Boniface and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton parishes. Personal relationships were important to M.J. If you met her once you were a friend for life. She was a member of a card club that met for over 60 years.
Mary Jean will be remembered as a faithful guardian of her family and friends. Her family was the center of her world and she poured her heart into supporting and caring for them. Her warmth, generosity, and unwavering faith touched the lives of many. Her legacy will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing her.
She is survived by her children Steve (Tammy) Engstrom, Mike (Valerie) Engstrom, and Kristin (Mark) Flora; grandchildren Jeff (Victoria) Engstrom, Taylor (Jordan Wiesenburger) Engstrom, Jonathon Engstrom, Laura (Andrew) Murray, Lindsay (Josh) John, Dillon Flora, Jackie (Jonathan) Loose, Kevin (Ashley) Engstrom, Anna Engstrom; great-grandchildren Jacob, Aleiah, Lydia, Stella, Allisyn, Liam, Maya, Raymond; sister-in-law, Mary Agnes Rohr and other relatives and cherished friends.
Mary Jean was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; son, Kurt; daughter, Mary Sue; siblings, Evelyn, Charlotte, Gerald, Jerome, Donald, Eugene, Lawerence, Edmund, and Sharon.
Please direct any donations to Hastings Family Service or donor’s choice.
Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, April 30 at 12 p.m. at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church (2035 15th Street West Hastings, MN 55033) with visitation two hours prior. Interment will be in the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Cemetery. Luncheon to follow at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton Church. The service will be live-streamed with a link to be available later.
Arrangements are with Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel.
