Jane Wienke, co-founder of roadside Door County produce store Wienke's Market, has died

ALGOMA - Jane Wienke, who with her husband, Don, founded Wienke's Market, one of the area's iconic roadside farm markets, died Sunday at age 82.

Born in Algoma as Beverly Jane Nelson, Wienke earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and was one of the inaugural members of the faculty at Southern Door High School when it opened in 1962, according to her obituary. Several years later, Don took over running the Piggly Wiggly grocery store his parents established in Algoma, and the couple moved onto a rural Algoma farmstead, just into the Door County side of the Door/Kewaunee county line, in 1967.

In the early '70s, the Wienkes opened a roadside stand where they sold produce grown in the hobby garden on their farm and preserved by Don and Jane's mothers, according to the market's website. In 1982, they converted a barn on the property into Wienke's Market, which they called "A Taste of Door County," and added greenhouses.

The market became a year-round business in 1990, and a kitchen was added to allow the Wienkes to expand their product lines by making more goods onsite. Today the market's products include numerous cherry-based goods, preserved fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, pickles and pickled veggies, jams, pie fillings, salsas and dips, juices, salad dressings, baked goods including the Scandinavian holiday flatbread lefse (available year-round at the market), and more.

Don Wienke preceded Jane in death on Oct. 1, 2021.

A memorial and celebration of Jane's life will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 19 at Wienke's Market, 292 County S in rural Algoma. Forbes Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay is handling the arrangements; to read Jane's full obituary, visit forbesfuneralhome.com. For more about Wienke's Market, call 920-743-7014 or visit atasteofdoorcounty.com.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.

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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Jane Wienke, co-founder of roadside Door County produce store Wienke's Market, has died