Mary Jane (Monster) (Van Wyk) Schuttinga was born on November 29, 1928, to William and Hattie (Hoekstra) Monster 4 miles south of Pella in their family home. On August 10, 2025, Mary Jane passed away at the age of 96 due to complications from congestive heart failure.

Mary Jane attended South Porterville Country School through the 8th grade and earned her GED in 1975. She grew up during the Great Depression, working alongside her siblings on the family farm. She later worked at the Pella Overall Factory until she married Wayne Eugene Van Wyk on January 29, 1949. They made their home in Monroe and to this union, four children were born: David Eugene, Dennis Lee, Darlene Ruth and Danny Wayne. Mary Jane devoted herself to homemaking, her children and family life. While her children were growing up, she enjoyed, teaching both Bible and Sunday School. In addition, she was the office manager of the Pella Sale Barn, which Wayne owned, and the bookkeeper for Van Wyk Brothers Corporation..

On July 29, 1977, Mary married Max Schutting at the Little Brown Church. Mary lovingly welcomed Max's children, Patty and Randy as her own. The couple lived in Pella before building their dream home by Red Rock Lake. They shared a love of camping, using it as a ministry opportunity to share Christian music, lead Bible studies and hold church services at the 1000 Adventure Campgrounds. Mary was also active in Christian Women's Fellowship in Pella, where she served as group leader. One of her accomplishments with Max was being among the original founders of Federated Fellowship Church in Pella.

In 1977, Mary stepped out of her comfort zone and joined Mary Kay Cosmetics. She cherished the friendships she formed through Mary Kay and treasured the honor of earning dinner with the company's founder, Mary Kay Ash, at the National Seminar in Dallas.

Mary had a natural gift for the arts. She loved writing, especially poetry. One of her greatest accomplishments was having two poetry books published after she turned 90. For more than 10 years, she wrote a column called A Day with M.J. for the Prairie City News. She also wrote Bible Studies for her church.

Even though Mary never learned to read music, she could play the piano, organ and just about any string instrument by ear. She also wrote and published songs and even created musicals for local churches.

She was just as talented with a paintbrush and pencil. Mary sketched scenes for Central Iowa Monument for over 20 years, and after she and her sister, Antoinette, began oil painting together, her home quickly filled with her beautiful artwork.

In her later years, she spent countless hours in her flower gardens. Her flowers were her pride and joy, and she delighted in showing visitors her beautiful plants and flowers.

Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will forever remember her homemade pudding, cookies from the freezer, the wooden marble track, the oil paintings she gifted them and the image of Grandma sitting in the shade on her wooden lawn swing.

Mary lived a life full of faith, creativity and love.

Those left to honor her memory are:

David (Patty) Van Wyk

Michael (Marnie) Van Wyk

Riley (Evie), Noah, Lily

Matthew (Jenni) Van Wyk

Nick, Ella

Monte (Jodi) Van Wyk

Claire, Katelyn

Marc (Samantha) Van Wyk

Lincoln, Memphis, Josephine

Darlene (Vern) Uitermarkt

Jason (Jami) Uitermarkt

Gracie (Clay) Van Wyk,

Sawyer

Grant, Gretchen, Graeden

Jonathan (Abbi) Uitermarkt

Wyatt, Tyler, Wayde, Bryce

Jordan (Jordan) Uitermarkt

Blakely, Sloan, Nellie

Jennafer (Zachary) Rozendaal

Lee

Danny (JoAnn) Van Wyk

Austin Van Wyk

Lena, Miles

Taisha (Clester) Graham

Rilee, Gabby

Preston Van Wyk Bruce Burzloff

Randy (Vicki) Schuttinga

Jennifer Spring

Jessie, Breann

Bradley Schuttinga

Immediate family members that preceeded Mary in death were her parents; an infant son, Dennis; Wayne Van Wyk; her brothers, Gerald and Marion Monster; her sisters, Antoinette (Vander Linden) Van Arkle and Dorothy (Rempe); husband Max Schuttinga; step grandson Nathan LeGrand; and great granddaughter London Rozendaal.

Grace Alive Church
Prairie City IA