Mary Caroline (Cole) Wielage, age 77, passed away on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, in Olathe, Kansas.  As she went to be with the angels, her children were by her side.

Mary was born on June 24, 1947, in Lincoln, Nebraska, the daughter of James Earl and Blanche Josephine Cole.  She graduated from Lincoln High School and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating with a bachelor's degree in sociology.  While attending a university street dance, Mary met her soon-to-be husband, Doug.  They married in 1969 and lived in Lincoln until 1975, followed by 47 years at their home in Crete.  Following Doug's passing in June 2022, Mary relocated to an assisted living facility in Overland Park, Kansas, to be near her children and grandchildren, all of whom reside in the greater Kansas City area.

Mary's proudest accomplishments were always her children, Stephanie and Scott. Mary was a homemaker for many years, volunteering in her children's classrooms and ensuring they always had plenty of homemade goodies for classroom parties, May Day, etc.  She enjoyed sewing their clothing and making sure they kept busy with sports/lessons, summer activities, friend-filled birthday parties and various family pets.  Once the children were older, Mary taught at Blue Door Nursery School for several years, followed by time in the administrative offices of Crete Manor and the Lincoln Dialysis Center.  Teaching at Blue Door was, without a doubt, Mary's favorite job outside of the home.  She loved it when she would run into former students around town, many of whom had grown and were starting families of their own. She was proud of the pre-school curriculum she helped to develop and of the many, many holiday programs she led at Blue Door.  As she drew closer to retirement, Mary returned to her love of children – working part-time as a para-educator at Crete Elementary.

In her retirement years, Mary enjoyed nothing more than spending time with her children and grandchildren.  Even after multiple strokes and a full spinal fusion (back surgery) limited her abilities, Mary could still play a mean game of Gin Rummy or Scrabble.  She was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed non-fiction, reading a book per week during the last several years.  Mary amassed quite a collection of hardbacks and was always happy to share them with her friends and with others in the assisted living facility.  Mary moved to assisted living in the fall of 2022, where she spent her afternoons enjoying the facility's musical performers and playing bingo. Scott, Stephanie and the grandkids were happy to have mom/grandma closer to them during her final years.  Prior to changes in their health, Mary and Doug also enjoyed vacations to the mountains and back to Estes Park (where they had honeymooned) as well as attending concerts in the Lincoln and Kansas City areas.  James Taylor was always a favorite for them both.

Survivors include daughter Stephanie (Dan), son Scott (Kelly) and grandchildren Trenton, Trace and Wyatt Wielage, as well as Sienna Cox, all of Olathe, Kansas; sister-in-law Jo Jayne Wielage of Lincoln, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gregg Wielage and Patti Wieser of LaJolla, California, nieces and a nephew.  Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Doug, her parents, James and Blanche, and parents-in-law, Orville and Ruth, as well as her brother, Lloyd Cole, and sister-in-law Dianne Stehlik.

A private service will be held.  Memorials to Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete to be shared with the family for future designation.