Jane Fuerstenberg Nekali

Jane, 82, formerly of Luverne, MN, died on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at her home surrounded by her loving family.
Jane was born October 7, 1941, in St. Kilian, Minnesota, to Leo and Perry Etta (Lynch) Fuerstenberg, the third of five daughters. She graduated in 1959 from the Academy of our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic High School in Mankato, MN and earned a Sociology degree in 1978 from the College of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph, MN.
On June 2, 1962, Jane married Edward Nekali and they were blessed with two sons, Craig and John. The couple later divorced. On August 10, 1985, Jane married Glenn Larson, her loving husband of 38 years.
She spent many years of her career as a Social Worker at the Southwestern Community Mental Health Center based in Luverne and serving five counties in rural Minnesota. In 1987 she and Glenn moved to Arizona. She worked as an executive assistant and with the Town of Fountain Hills. She retired in 1997. Following retirement, she and Glenn enjoyed traveling via RV to all 49 states one can drive to, as well as nine Canadian provinces. Their love of travel also took them to Australia, New Zealand, and several European countries.
Jane was a loving mother, wife, sister, grandmother, aunt, a cherished friend to many and she will be missed by all. Jane was a licensed single engine airplane pilot, an avid quilter with over 60 quilted works of art to her credit and the family calendars she produced on the computer every Christmas were always the best loved gifts. In addition to quilting, she enjoyed playing cards, Mahjong, visiting with family, friends, an incredible group of neighbors and living in what they described as Pleasantville.
Jane is survived by her sons, Craig (Julie) and John Nekali; stepdaughter, Julie Cossette; and her sisters, Shirley (Verlyn) Legler and Carol (Jim) Volk. She is also survived by grandsons, Nicholas, Nathan and Zachary Nekali; bonus granddaughter, Keyosha McDonald; great-grandson, Kaeden Dallas; step-grandchildren: Maxwell and Samantha Cossette, Alexandra, Natalie and Grant Larson; and many nieces and nephews. Jane was predeceased by her parents, two infant brothers, two sisters, Marian (Paul) Franklin and Leola (Mike) Sweeney, her husband Glenn, former husband Edward and two stepsons Steven and Paul Larson.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. at Messinger Mortuary in Fountain Hills. Interment of ashes will be held in Luverne, MN at a later date.