Mary Katherine Theisen, 96, Oconto Falls, went to her eternal home on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 23, 2015, with her loving family present. She was born June 28, 1919, in Sheboygan, the youngest of five children and only girl to Jacob and Frances (Nick) Gerend.
Mary grew up in Sheboygan, where she attended Holy Name Catholic Grade School before graduating from Sheboygan High School with the Class of 1937. Following graduation from high school, she attended Rosary College near Chicago for a short time until transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she graduated as a registered dietitian.
Following graduation from UW, during World War II, Mary also helped make batteries for Army walkie talkies at Rayovac. She served her internship at Montefiore Hospital in New York, New York, before receiving her first job at Wisconsin General Hospital, now known as UW Hospital, in Madison.
Mary met the love of her life, “Jimmy,” working in the hospital cafeteria, where she gently patted him on the hand for taking an extra pad of butter; not allowed because of rations.
On April 27, 1946, she married Dr. James Kenneth Theisen in Sheboygan. The devoted couple lived in Milwaukee and Fond du Lac for a short time, then because of her husband’s career as a surgeon and military service, they lived in Ohio, Marshfield, Wisconsin, and Fort Stewart, Georgia, before moving in 1956 to Green Bay, where Mary taught dietetics at Bellin School of Nursing.
In 1967, the Theisen family moved to Oconto Falls, where Mary’s husband served as chief of surgery and Mary worked as a dietitian at Community Memorial Hospital.
Mary was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oconto Falls and was known for her strong faith in God. She was active in the Wisconsin Pro-Life movement, the American Dietetics Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.
Mary loved camping, reading, music, being politically aware and telling stories about her life and family. Mary was a devoted mother and wife, serving for many years as a den mother for her sons’ Scouting activities and being well-known as caring for her family and others with her calm, steady and kind demeanor.
When she was younger, Mary enjoyed reading, history, languages, playing the piano, singing and square dancing with her beloved husband, Jim. She also enjoyed the music of the 1930s and 1940s, musicals and Big Band music. Lately, Mary enjoyed “The Lawrence Welk Show,” “When Radio Was” and “Radio Rosary” on WOCO as her favorites.
Survivors are her children, Nick Theisen, Oconto Falls, Tony (Linda) Theisen, Green Bay, Bob Theisen, Justice, Illinois, Joe (Vernell) Theisen, Wausau, and Jane (Keith) Schneider, Oconto Falls; 10 grandchildren, Melissa (Chad) Mays, Milwaukee, Jacob Theisen, Portland, Oregon, Kristin (Eric) Wall, Green Bay, Tom (Heather) Theisen, Sacramento, California, Christopher (Tiffany) Theisen, Madison, Matthew (Charlene) Theisen, Los Angeles, California, Paul Theisen, Madison, John Theisen, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Elisabeth (Derek) Schmelzer, Oconto Falls, and and Kirsten (Jared) Dunsworth, Raeford, North Carolina; four great-grandchildren, Haven and Sasha Mays, Milwaukee, Mason Wall, Green Bay, and Evelyn Schmelzer, Oconto Falls; and an expected great-grandchild, Baby Dunsworth.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dr. James Theisen, on Jan. 21, 1993; two sons, Frank, on March 16, 1997, and Tim, on June 18, 2007; and her four older brothers, Jim, Ray, Art and Wally Gerend.
Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue after 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oconto Falls until the time of service. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m .Saturday at the church with the Rev. Robert Karuhn officiating. Cremation will follow, with the burial of the urn in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Slinger.
The Theisen family would like to thank Mary’s former caregiver, Rosalyn Gilles, the staff at Sharpe Care and Unity Hospice for the constant care and concern they demonstrated.
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