MaryJane Vought
July 09, 1932 - June 28, 2026
Obituary
MaryJane VanOudenhoven Vought was born at home on July 9, 1932 in the Town of Grand Chute, on the corner of Evergreen and French Road, across from her grandparents’ farm.
I moved to Neenah when I was three and was the middle child, between six brothers. I graduated from Neenah High School, class of 1950. On April 28, 1951, I married Donald W. Vought at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Together we had three children, Victoria Gardner, and William; the loves of our lives.
I was the proud donor of 10 gallons of blood to the Badger American Red Cross and was with the first group of Habitat for Humanity to build a home with all women workers. A few years later, I went with a church group by bus to Nebraska to build a pole barn because the first barn was town down by a tornado.
I took up tennis after watching Donnie for many years. When I was confident I finally knew the rules, I joined the Fox Cities Tennis Club and a women’s team. It was great fun! I also enjoyed gardening and was invited in 2001 and 2013 to be on the Garden Walk, which was put on by the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley.
I am survived by children: Victoria A. Merkley and William (Pat Heller) Vought; grandchildren: Christopher and Jennifer Burks and their son, Easton; Matthew and Jodi Merkley; and Adam and Samantha Merkley and their children: Logan, Evelyn, Raylen, and Kaitlyn. I am further survived by many other relatives, nieces and nephews and cousins.
I was preceded in death by my husband, Donald W. Vought; my son, Gardner John; parents, Henry and Johanna (Thyssen) VanOudenhoven; son-in-law, Paul Merkley; and by my brothers and their wives: Robert and Marion; Eugene and Blanche; Jerry and Lorie; Steven and Carol (Olson); Herbert and Janet; and by Marvin and Donna; and by my in-laws, Gardner and Sylvia Vought; Ralph Vought; and Sylvia Dedering.
In following with my wishes, there will not be a funeral service held.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Autism Society of Fox Valley, Attn: Kelly, 1477 Kenwood Dr., Menasha, WI 54952