Mary Jane (Boening) Schmidt, age 83 was embraced in the arms of our Lord Jesus, while surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, November 8, 2014 following a brief but courageous battle with cancer.
She was born in Owen, WI on September 12, 1931 to the late Fred Boening and Dorothy (Kettner-Boening) Weidman. She graduated from Withee High School. On April 15, 1950 Mary Jane was united in marriage to Oscar L. Schmidt in Owen, WI. Mary was a stay at home mom for many years, then worked at the R. Sabee Co. in Appleton for 34 and a half years. Mary was secretary/treasurer for the Weyauwega VFW Auxiliary for three years and an election poll worker for the Town of Caledonia. She worked in the “step-worker program” at the Readfield school. She loved her children, grand- and great-grandchildren dearly, and was always there for all of us, whenever we needed. She taught us many lessons in life. She enjoyed gardening, baking, watching and feeding the birds and monarch butterflies, and a little gambling now and then with her buddy Char. She was a member of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in New London.
Mary is survived by her 10 children: Mike (Kris) Schmidt, New London; Sue (Dave) Close, Dale: Patti (Dave) Austeng, Black Creek; Linda Borowski, Readfield; Jack (Vicki) Schmidt, New London; Kay (Lee) Steingraber, New London; Paul (Tammy) Schmidt, Waupaca; Geri (Myron) Retzke, Manawa; Cliff (Tammie) Schmidt, New London; Cindy Schmidt, Milwaukee, a very special daughter-in-law, Suzy; 22 grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister, Mildred (Jim) Gummerson, FL; brothers, Fred “Jim” (June) Boening and Bob (Masae) Boening, both Colorado; a sister, Paulette Spindler, Stratford; two step-brothers, Jim(Kitty) Weidman, Oregon; Ralph Jr. (Louise)Weidman, Tripoli, WI; one sister-in-law, Elva Warnke of Fremont, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Oscar in 2004, also her parents and step-father Ralph Weidman, a sister Caroline, and brothers and sisters-in-law.
The Funeral Mass for Mary will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in New London with Fr. Arul Joseph I. officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Weyauwega. A visitation will be held at the Cline & Hanson Funeral Home in New London on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. and on Thursday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the mass. She touched the lives of many people and will be missed and remembered by all.