Mary Jane (Malnar) Pohlers

Mary Jane Pohlers (nee Malnar), age 97, entered into eternal life peacefully on Saturday, August 24, 2016.

Mary is survived by one sister, Lillian Musich of St. Louis, MO; and two nephews, Robert Baudek and Dr. Thomas (Dawn) Musich of St. Louis, MO; two great nephews, Randall Baudek of Shorewood and Jeffrey (Katina) Baudek of Joliet; three great nieces, Jennifer (Jamie) Musich-Rehmann, Elizabeth (Grant) Henderson and Anna Musich all of St. Louis, MO; as well as her close friends, Kathy Yeager, Lore Ogg, Ester Soto, and Adrean Burla.

Preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Pohlers; parents, John and Mary (nee Sustarsic) Malnar; one sister, Helen Baudek; and two brothers-in-law, Louis Baudek and Bernard Musich.

Mary Jane began her working career at Pohlers Machine Works before co-hosting the Memory Hour Program that featured live local talent and could be heard on four different radio stations on Sunday afternoons. She started the first FM Radio Station in Joliet, WAJP, that went “on air” on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1960. She co-hosted the popular Polka Time Request program with her husband, Al, daily from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The family would like to thank everyone at Presence Villa Franciscan Nursing Home and the Joliet Area Community Hospice for the excellent care they provided.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mary Jane’s name to St. Mary Nativity Church, 706 N. Broadway St., Joliet, IL 60435, Presence Villa Franciscan Nursing Home, 210 North Springfield Avenue, Joliet, IL 60435, or Joliet Area Community Hospice 250 Water Stone Circle, Joliet, IL 60431, would be greatly appreciated.

A Celebration of Mary Jane’s life will begin on Saturday, August 27, 2016 with a visitation from 9:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. in the Nativity Room of St. Mary Nativity Catholic Church in Joliet, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in the church at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow at St. Mary Nativity Cemetery in Crest Hill.

There will be no services held at the funeral home.