Mary Louise Olson
1958 - 2025 (66 years)Mary Louise Hartzheim | Age 66 | Kimberly, WI
Mary Louise Hartzheim, age 66, of Kimberly and Sun City West, Arizona, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on January 16, 2025. She was born to the late Frank and Lois (Leopold) Olson on March 22, 1958 in Appleton. Mary graduated from Xavier High School in 1976. She worked in many different service sectors. Mary married the love of her life and soulmate Wayne Hartzheim on October 11, 1991.
Mary lived each day to the fullest, always had a smile on her face and didn't take anything too seriously, most often noted by her contagious laugh. She enjoyed so many different experiences and things in her life, even finding creative ways to check her bucket list in her last year; getting a tattoo saying, "She believed she could so she did".
Mary and Wayne enjoyed recreation together including golfing, making many friends along the way; and camping, which was always a big part of their lives, more recently accompanied by campfires and friends at Happy Wayne's. Mary was blessed to retire early and together Mary and Wayne began their Arizona snowbird journey in 2013 where they enjoyed many many friends, socializing, and golf. Mary so appreciated Wayne's caretaking through her illness and felt that she could not have chosen a better spouse for herself, whom she loved with all of her soul.
Mary loved being a part of a big family, she never felt alone and always felt like she had a friend; everybody was always respectful of each other and loved to have a fun time together. Her wonderful parents were a beautiful example of both patience and enduring love. Family and Friends meant so much to her, she was attentive and present in the lives of so many. Mary lived a life grounded in Christianity being raised Catholic, she appreciated many denominations and always felt welcome wherever she took in a message. She was firm in her faith and lived it in her heart, it was always a part of her life in any circumstance.
Mary's personal hobbies were many but most notably, crafting which started with her Mother at the age of 8. She later learned how to knit from her Aunt Pat, and self-taught how to crochet, bead work, weaving on her loom and many more. She made many quilts, afghans, and craft items which she loved to share with others; so much so that Wayne would ask why nothing was ever kept for them. She also loved to travel, whether across town, the country or overseas. Nature, bird watching, flowers, animals, being surrounded by the woods in a campground, always left her in wonder. Mary was active in many ways over the years including bowling, walking/running, races, exercise classes, she always enjoyed being active; most recently pickle ball became a hobby she participated in up to 6 times per week. Mary also enjoyed taking in music in many forms, participating in school and church choirs since grade school, adult performance choirs such as the West Wind Harmony Chorus in Sun City West. She loved learning to play many instruments including the cello, guitar, clarinet and most recently the ukulele. She also dabbled in community theatre.
Mary is survived by her husband Wayne; her siblings: Frederick (Sue) Olson, Richard Olson, Steve (Deb) Olson, Patricia Kemps, David (Deb) Olson, Thomas (Lynn) Olson, Kristine Wells, and Susan (Craig) Rogne; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, other relatives, and friends. Mary is preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law Ken Kemps.
A memorial service for Mary will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at Bubolz Nature Preserve, 4815 N Lyndale Drive, Appleton, WI 54913. Friends may visit from 2:00 p.m. until the time of service. A time of fellowship will be held after the service.
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