Mary A. Drescher Obituary

Mary A. Drescher

Mary Agnes (Mullaley) Drescher, 81, of Oakwood Villa Nursing Home, Altoona, entered eternal peace on Thursday, March 13, 2008. Mary was born on December 8, 1926, in Hillpoint, WI, to Arthur and Johanna Mullaley. She graduated in 1945 from Reedsburg High School; and on December 1, 1945, she married Leonard P. Drescher. They lived in Baraboo, Wisconsin Dells, Madison, and Milwaukee before moving to Altoona in September, 1962. Mary worked since she was 16 years old and was employed as a bookkeeper at Wissota Sand and Gravel for almost 30 years before she retired. She was a very busy woman working and raising her two children, Linda (Robert) Gabriel and Leonard A. (Charlene Swoboda) Drescher. A few years after Mary and Leonard were married, they became foster parents to two girls, Ruth and Barbara Quam. In the mid '50s, Ruth moved back to live with them and their family until Ruth graduated from high school.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 12:00 pm on Wednesday March 19, 2008 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1812 Lynn Avenue, Altoona, WI 54720. Monsignor Edmund Klimek and Father Norbert Wilger will officiate. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Eau Claire immediately following the services. Friends may visit at Fuller Speckien Hulke Funeral Home on Tuesday evening from 4-7:30 pm. A Rosary services will begin at 7:30 pm to conclude the evening. Visitation will continue Wednesday morning at the church from 11 am until the time of services.

Mary was very active in the Disabled American Veterans as she and Leonard were life members in chapters in Madison, Milwaukee, Eau Claire, and Mary recently with Chippewa Falls. They traveled extensively for the organization as both Leonard and Mary held most offices at local chapters and some at the state levels. They were active with the Altoona Lion's Club. Mary was also a member of the Moose Club in Eau Claire for a few years. She served on Altoona's Elderly Housing Authority for many years before her stroke in August, 2004.

Mary was a faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church since moving to Altoona in 1962, and she was very involved in the parish. She belonged to the ladies' group, was active in the parish school PTA, served on many committees for the fall festivals, and assisted her daughter, Linda, with the Youth Group from 1992 until 2004.

She was First Lady of Altoona when Leonard was Mayor from 1979 to 1984. She was also very supportive of his political years on Altoona's City Council. Mary said goodbye to Leonard on February 5, 1985, but now is reunited with him in God's Kingdom. They met at a dance hall called Dreamland and loved to dance. Mary loved music and polkas were her favorite. Mary always put her family first and was very supportive and very proud of them. She was a "cool" grandma and never seemed to act her age. She had that twinkle in her eye and smile on her face all the time. She was one independent, sassy lady.

Red was her favorite color, and she enjoyed doing all kinds of craftwork. She always had some project going--sewing, needlework, ceramics, woodwork, beadwork, or something else; and she enjoyed decorating her home for all the holidays with many of her creations. Baking was also a favorite pastime of hers, and family and friends enjoyed plenty of baked goods all year round.

Mary and Leonard loved to travel and went south most winters. After Leonard passed, she continued to travel and visited all 50 states in the US and even traveled to Norway and Sweden. She loved her winters in Arizona for many years, but her summers were spent at her favorite place, the cottage on Island Lake, from 1974 until she could no longer travel there. She greatly enjoyed watching and listening to the beautiful loons. There wasn't anything she wouldn't try to do herself, whether it was driving the pontoon, painting the cottage, or rewiring a lamp. She was a hard worker all her life.

Mary was especially close to her grandchildren and felt so blessed to live close and be able to watch them grow up. She attended many of their sporting and music events. Grandchildren are Daniel Drescher (Rachel Birch) of Altoona; Eileen (Gabriel) Van Den Heuvel (Kevin) of Barneveld, WI; Kate (Drescher) Flores (Mario) of St. Louis, MO; and Mary Gabriel of West St. Paul, MN. Great grandchildren are Eva Van Den Heuvel of Barneveld, Carter Drescher of Altoona, and Baby Flores of St. Louis (expected in August, 2008). Mary's two foster daughters, Ruth Livingston, Waukesha, WI, and Barbara Hochschild, Milwaukee, WI, have stayed in touch all these years; and they each had six children and many grandchildren of their own. Some considered Mary their grandmother as well.

Mary is survived by her children; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; her sister, Dorothy Faber, of Baraboo; a niece; nephews; cousins; and many special friends. After Leonard passed away, Mary was fortunate to have the companionship of Frank Dahl (deceased), Walter Brzeski (deceased), and Norman Kuhl. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her brother, Donald; all her brothers- and sisters-in law: Josephine Mullaley, Vincent Faber, Leon and Lorraine Chute, Bill and LaVetta Hurley, Jack and Gertrude Drescher; a niece, LaVonne Hurley; a nephew, Bill Chute; and a foster grandchild, Teri Livingston.

Mary will be sadly missed by all who knew her. She was proud of her Irish heritage and had that Irish smile and twinkle in her eye until her final days. Although her stroke took her speech and left her paralyzed on one side, she lived each day to the fullest and never lost her good nature and upbeat personality. She was a lady of endless expressions and communicated very well through them. Mary loved music, so the monthly birthday celebrations with live music with some old friends were her highlights when she was up to attending. She was very fortunate to have a wonderful roommate, Borgie Gunderson, for almost three years at the nursing home.

In spite of her condition, she was able to attend the college graduation of her youngest granddaughter, Mary, and the weddings of grandchildren, Dan Drescher and Kate Flores. Her last outing was the baptism of great-granddaughter, Eva Rose, in August, 2007. Our family is so thankful and blessed that God granted us these extra three years since her stroke to share our lives and memories with her. Having her at those events meant a lot to us.

Thank you to her wonderful supportive medical team of Dr. Kristine Haig and Jennifer Insteness who were always there for her and us. Special thanks to the Oakwood Villa staff for the 3+ years of care for Mary. She especially enjoyed and was so grateful for her special friendship with Sr. Mary Jane, Chaplain at Oakwood Villa. She enjoyed many of the aides, nurses, and therapists. The Activities Dept. was outstanding, and being able to go to the chapel regularly meant a lot to Mary. Also, thank you to Northwest Hospice for the care during the past several weeks.

Friends and Family may offer condolences online at www.fullerspeckien.com. Fuller Speckien Hulke Funeral Home, 3209 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701 is assisting the family with the arrangements.