Mary Ann Drooger

Mary Ann (Van Maanen) Drooger was born on November 27, 1937, the third of four children to Herman and Sarah (Boon) Van Maanen. She idolized her older sister Margaret and had a built-in best friend in her little brother John. Her older brother Jake looked after them all. They grew up on farms near Hills, MN, and Valley Springs, SD, where she attended school. It was freshman year in Hills where she met Janice Beyer, a friendship she treasured for the last 75 years. Through high school, Mary Ann worked candling eggs and at Hills Grocery. After graduating in 1955, she got a job at the State Bank in Beaver Creek.

On Christmas Day 1953, she went to the Edgerton Roller Rink, where a handsome man named Arie Drooger asked her on a date. They were married on January 24, 1958. Their first few years of marriage were spent in and around Edgerton until moving to Brewster in 1971 for Arie’s job at the bank. Along with raising their three children, Sharon, Mike, and Susan, Mary Ann began selling Avon door-to-door and met many new friends this way. She also worked at the jewelry store in Worthington. In 1976, the family moved back to Edgerton. Here, Mary Ann got a job working at the Village Market grocery store, which she purchased with Dot Van Essen in November 1977. Two women owning a business at that time was a rarity, and they ran it well. Mary Ann’s son Mike eventually bought Dot’s share. Mary Ann continued working at the store until her retirement in 2004.

Mary Ann and Arie loved to travel and went on many road trips with family and friends. They especially enjoyed their trip to the Netherlands in 1989. Mary Ann enjoyed coffee time with the gals, biking or driving down to Main Street every morning. Sundays were reserved for church and visiting family. She was a member of the First Reformed Church in Edgerton, active with the Joy Circle preparing pigs in a blanket and caring for those in need. She prayed daily for her family and friends.

In February 2017, Arie and Mary Ann sold their home in Edgerton and moved to the Edgebrook Apartments. Arie passed away on October 9, 2017. Mary Ann remained in their apartment until December 2025 when she moved to Edgebrook Care Center. Her memory was fuzzy during the last years of her life, but her longing for Arie endured. She passed away at Pipestone County Hospice on January 23, 2026, the eve of their 68th wedding anniversary. She knew her family until the end.

Left to carry on her legacy are her children: Sharon (Tom) Weaver, Mike (Gay Lynn) Drooger, and Susan (Craig) Kallemeyn; 8 grandchildren: Ranell (Josh) Strommen, Adam (Shannon) Weaver, Alyson (Codi) Gunnink, Lindsey Drooger, Luke (Breanna) Drooger, Andrew (Lauren) Kallemeyn, Amy (Dave) Thornton, and Austin (Krystina) Kallemeyn; 12 great-grandchildren: Carter, Reese, Sierra, Addelena, Maisie, Declan, Caden, Parker, Mykah, Raya, Mox, and Miller; brother: John (Carol) Van Maanen; special friends: Janice Pater and Mina Jouwstra; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was welcomed to heaven by her husband Arie, parents Herman and Sarah, brother Jake (Grace) Van Maanen, sister Margaret (Jake) Bakker, parents-in-law Gerrit and Nellie Drooger, siblings-in-law, and extended family and friends.

Our grandma was one of a kind. She cared for us so well as children, protective and loving. She perfectly evolved with us as we grew into adults, providing encouragement and pride exactly when we needed it. We will remember her for her perfect roast beef Sunday dinners, her spot in the bleachers with Grandpa watching our events at school, coming to the pool with Grandpa just to watch us swim, her ability to always be cold on the pontoon in the hot summer sun, her letters, emails, and texts, her love of popcorn, her impeccable clothing and makeup, being our chauffeur for anything from computer jobs to doctor appointments, the vanilla sandwich cookies in the cookie jar, the way she said “knock knock” AFTER entering our house to visit, her big love for her 12 great-grandchildren, and how she simply showed up for every one of us every time. Take care, Grandma. We love you.

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