Mary Margaret Klitzman

Klitzman, Mary Margaret McKenna MADISON-Well, heaven just got a little bit funnier! Mary Klitzman died Sunday, July 20, 2014. She was born July 3, 1923, in Osakis, Minn., to John and Josephine McKenna, but lived on the prairies of South Dakota until the age of 18. After Business School in Rapid City, she began her career as an Executive Secretary for the Federal Government. While working in Chicago, she hopped a bus to Madison to meet a cousin that she didn't know for some St. Patrick's Day fun. Before the evening was over she had met Stewart and they were married exactly five months later. As a couple, they devoted their lives to raising their five children and practicing their strong faith. It's hard to say how many hundreds of rosaries mom made over the years, but the one made of acorns from Holy Hill was definitely the most unusual one! Mary was a true cowgirl, a humorist and a Christian. She was wise, humble, stoic and compassionate. She loved words, a blue sky, birds and the shape of a bare tree. She loved God, her Irish Heritage and a good gin and tonic. But most of all, mom loved her family and friends. Survivors include her children, Nancy “Nicki” (Ed) Hoesly of New Glarus, Sue (Doug) Lefeber and Pat Klitzman, all of Madison; grandchildren, Nicole (Jeff) Johnston of Dodgeville, Greg Lefeber of Lakewood, Colo. and Griffin Lefeber of Madison; great-grandchildren, Kaleb, Lindsay and Carter Johnston of Dodgeville; a brother Tom McKenna of Austin, Colo.; and many special nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; Stewart, her husband of 62 years; sons, Dan and Jim Klitzman; brothers, Frank and Jim Mckenna; and sister, Lou Larive. A memorial mass will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2014, with Fr. John Silva presiding. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., on Friday, July 25, 2014 and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711 or IHM Catholic Church. A special thanks to all the caring people at Agrace HospiceCare and Oak Park Place. "After all these years, I still hear the silent call of the prairies. I miss those endless blue skies that proved to me, as a child, that the world is indeed round. Round and flat. I remember that little log house at the forks of the Moreau River in northwestern South Dakota. And I am reminded that this is the land that nurtured the McKenna kids. We are better people because of that." From Mom's memoir, A Kid From the Prairies. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420