Mary Jane Rubrake, 76 , of rural South Whitley, died peacefully at 6:10 p.m. Monday, September 13, 2021, at Miller's Oak Pointe, Columbia City.

She was born August 30, 1945, in Allen County, Indiana, a daughter of the late Earl James and Dorothy (Dunifon) Kaough. She grew up in Washington Twp., Whitley County, and graduated from Columbia City Joint High School in 1963.

On May 11, 1963, she married Roy Rubrake. They made their home in Washington Twp., moving to their farm in 1975.

A full-time homemaker raising the couple's four children, she also assisted with their farm operation. She regularly worked the fields in a four-wheel-drive John Deere, often with a sleeping child or grandchild onboard.

She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and knitting making clothes for her family, often adorning the dresses she made or bought with embroidery. Her sewing skills earned her the nickname of Mary-the-Mender. She liked to grow flowers and, through the years, a vegetable garden.

Surviving is her husband of 58 years, Roy; children, Gary Alan (Cindy) Rubrake of South Whitley, Jody Lynn (Kevin) Alexander of Columbia City, Susan Marie (Wyatt) Pequignot of Columbia City and Tom Edward Rubrake of South Whitley; grandchildren, Justin (Brooke) Alexander, Kyler (Amber) Alexander, Nicholas (Abby) Pequignot, Emilee Pequignot, Madeline Rubrake, and Lily Rubrake; four great-grandchildren; and a sister, Patricia A. Heinbaugh.

Additionally, she was preceded in death by a brother, James Kaough.

The funeral service is 10 a.m. Friday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.

Burial at the Washington Twp. Cemetery. Visitation is 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials are to the Whitley County Agriculture Museum.