Mary Margaret Elsinger
June 15, 1936 - March 09, 2015
Obituary
MADISON-Mary Margaret Elsinger, age 78, passed away on Monday, March 9, 2015 at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg. She was born on June 15, 1936 in Mauston, the daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Murphy) Kieffer. Mary was united in marriage to Victor A. Elsinger on September 2, 1961, in Mauston. She attended St. Patrick’s Grade School and Mauston High School. Mary worked for over 30 years at the VA Hospital as a medical transcriptionist. After retirement she worked at the Fitchburg Police Department typing police reports until her MS made it too difficult to continue. Mary had a special gift of sharing encouraging words and kindness to all she talked to. Her many phone calls will be missed. She taught her daughters to value education, work hard, save money and help those in need. Mary enjoyed cooking, lunches, talking with friends and her grandchildren- “grandma sweetheart” will be missed. Mary is survived by her husband, Vic; daughters Vicki (Craig) Welch, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Tracy (Kurt) Hellenbrand, Middleton; grandchildren, Amanda (Tyler) Droppers, Keith Welch, Luke Welch, Bryce Hellenbrand and Annika Hellenbrand; and sisters-in-law, Gloria Kieffer and Liz Kieffer. She was preceded in death by her infant son Andrew, her parents and two brothers, Maury Kieffer and Chuck Kieffer. A Mass of Christian of Burial will be held at ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 602 Everglade Drive, Madison at 11:30 AM on Friday, March 13, 2015, with Father Bart Timmerman presiding. Burial will be in Sunset Memory Gardens, Madison. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL & CREMATION CARE, 7435 University Ave., Middleton from 4PM until 7PM on Thursday, March 12, 2015 where a Rosary will begin at 6:30 PM and also at the church on Friday from 10:30 AM until the time of the service. Memorials may be made to Agrace HospiceCare or to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Avenue
(608)831-6761
Events
Visitation
Thu Mar 12, 2015 @ 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM CDT
Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Mass of Christian Burial
Fri Mar 13, 2015 @ 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM CDT
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church (Madison) • 602 Everglade Drive, Madison, WI 53717
Photos
No photos of Mary have been shared yet.
Memories
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Karen
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Our hearts go out to you Tracy and Kurt and Bryce & Annika....Mary was more than a friend to me since Kurt and Tracy got married we could talk about so many things and just remember Bryce and Annika that she will always be your grandma SWEETHEART.....love you all Karen (Grandma Honey) & Dave
DJ
Dawn Janisch
Other •
Share your favorite memory here, or leave a condolence for the family...
DJ
Dawn Janisch
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Vicki, Tracy and families, I am so sorry for your loss! I enjoyed my time with your mother very much! My heart goes out to all of you!
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Mary Ryan
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I only knew Mary by phone. She called me to donate food for St. Thomas Aquinas funerals. She was always so upbeat and nice. Once she called me after a funeral to tell me my muffins were really liked by the family and friends of the deceased. How nice was that?? I will miss her cheerful calls. I extend my deepest sympathies to you. Mary Ryan
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Eva Mullendore
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We are so sorry for your loss. Mary was a wonderful lady. I always enjoyed our phone conversations all the time. Remember all your wonderful memories with her.
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Carrie Podehl
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I would like to extend my condolences to Mary's family. I never met Mary. I likely saw her at St. Thomas sometime, but didn't attach a name with her face. I am another who only knew Mary by phone when she would call to solicit a dessert for a funeral luncheon at St. Thomas. What a delightful person she was to talk with! She was always so grateful because I always said "yes." I felt that making a dessert was much less stressful than her job of making all of those calls. Sometimes we would spend a few extra minutes just chatting. She was the type of person that you could easily carry on a conversation with even though you didn't know her. I had Mary's number in my cell phone. That helped ensure that her calls would be identified as coming from her and I would always try to answer so that she didn't have to call back. I will miss the smile that always came through in her voice.
Carrie Podehl