| Notes |
- Mary L. Wahlers, McFarland, died Saturday, June 27, at HospiceCare in Madison.
Born on March 31, 1932 in Kimberly, Mary was one of seven children of the late Joseph and Agnes Weyenberg Dupont, both of Dutch ancestry with her father emigrating from Holland as a child.
Mary wed her best friend and Kimberly classmate, Robert (Pike) Wahlers, on April 15, 1955 at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, IL. Together they raised five children during their 54-year marriage. They were also a home to seven foster children for a period of months and even years. Their life together took them throughout the state as the Wahlers lived in Combined Locks, Sheboygan, Green Bay and the Madison area.
Throughout her life, Mary possessed a fervent belief in the importance of education, for herself and her children. After attending Kimberly schools and graduating in 1950 as class valedictorian, she earned degrees in History and English from UW-Madison in 1955. Mary also spent time at UW-Oshkosh pursuing her master's in guidance counseling.
She taught for a time and later served as a substitute teacher.
Mary loved outdoor activities. She had her own garden and was proud of her flowers and home landscaping. She was an accomplished swimmer and she enjoyed bicycling and cross country skiing as well. Friends and family would meet each winter at a Door County retreat.
In many ways, May was ahead of her time. A devote mother, wife, and legendary cook; she created the warmest of environments at home for her family and friends while also pursuing a life in government and politics. Just as her mother, Agnes, she reached out to anyone in need. After the foster children, she opened her home to waves of students drawn to Wisconsin during presidential elections. In Madison, several St. Norbert College grads lived with the family while they looked for jobs.
Her political career began in 1972 when she chaired the McGovern presidential campaign in Sheboygan County, becoming a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. She was president of The League of Women Voters there. While in Green Bay she became a legislative aide to Congressman Cornell and then worked for State Sen. Van Sistine. She headed the Brown County Democratic Party and later was on the board of the Dane County Democratic Party. In 1983, Mary was appointed to the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women by Governor Tony Earl. Her last job before retiring was Wisconsin Deputy Secretary of State for Doug LaFollette.
Mary is survived by her husband, Robert; children, Patrick (Margie), Charles, Timothy (Robin), Tobin, and Jane (Dan) Schimmel; grandchildren, Jason, Ryne, Ian, Jacob, Carly, and Joe, who lived with his grandparents until recently. Others include two sisters, Patricia Vanden Boom and Susan Dupont; brothers, Thomas (Dorothy) and Steven (Gayle) and special cousin, Marie.
Preceding Mary in death were her parents, brothers, Mike (Margie survives) and Joe (Susan survives) and brother-in-law, Carl. Also preceding were Robert's parents, John and Ella, who lived with the Wahlers family for 23 years of her life.
Mary's life will be celebrated by family and friends at her home town of Kimberly and her other homes.
|
1932 - 2009 (77 years)