Harold May

MADISON/OREGON/MONONA-Harold Leo May, age 91, died peacefully on Sunday, May 8, 2016, at Heritage Monona. His greatest joys were his family, helping others, and his Catholic faith. Harold was born on Dec. 21, 1924, in Mineral Point, Wis. He was the second son and second child of six children born to Herman N. May and Mary Mae (nee McCarville) May. Harold grew up on the Fernvale Farm, which is still in the May family. He graduated from Mineral Point High School in 1941, and attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison. In June, 1944, Harold joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theater in World War II, as an ETM-2C (radar and electronics) on a mine sweeper. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Harold obtained his BSME degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1947; he became a full–time instructor in the College of Engineering while attaining his Master's degree in Engineering Mechanics in 1951. While at the UW, Harold was editor of the Wisconsin Engineer magazine. He was also very active at St. Paul's Catholic Center in Madison, where he met Beatrice (Bea) Schweigert, a delightful farm girl from northern Wisconsin, majoring in Home Economics. Harold and Bea were married at St. Paul's by Father Alvin Kutchera on Aug. 28, 1948. After college, Harold worked for Ohio Chemical, later Ohio Medical Products and Daytex Ohmeda (now GE Healthcare) for 35 years. He retired in 1986, as an executive in the Engineering Department at Ohmeda, where he was head of Research and Development, and Product Assurance. Harold also served on National and International Standards Committees for Medical Devices, and on an Advisory Committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He holds several patents developed while at Ohmeda, some of which are still used in hospitals. Harold was a devout Roman Catholic. At his death, he was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Church in Monona, for the second time in his life. In the 1950-60's, Harold was active at IHM and served on the Building Committee that supervised the construction of the church. After the family moved from Monona to Oregon in 1964, he was active at Holy Mother of Consolation Church in Oregon, Wis. Harold was a teacher of Religious Education and Marriage Preparation Classes, a member of the Holy Name Society and IHM Church Council, and a Lector and Eucharist Minister. In his retirement, Harold and his wife Bea traveled extensively in the U.S., and they achieved a lifetime goal of visiting Rome and the Holy Land. He served as a volunteer at St. Mary's Hospital, and the American Red Cross, where he repaired wheel chairs. Harold also was active for years in AA and its related service organizations, helping and mentoring many new members of AA. Harold is survived by his wife, Bea of 67 years; and his brood of eight children, Mary Jo (Richard) Morrow of Verona, Barbara May of Wausau, Carol May of Prairie du Sac, Michael May (Briony Foy) of Madison, Laurie (Michael) Larson of Eagan, Minn., David (Kathy) May of Mosinee, and the twins, Trish (Bert) Paris of Belleville, and Paul May (Lisa Lundell) of Minneapolis, Minn. He is further survived by 21 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; his sister, Marge (Peter) Terenzetti of Utica, N.Y.; his brother, Jack (Laura) May of Roseville, Calif., sister-in-law, Lucille May of Mineral Point; brother-in-law, Jim Christ of Menomonee Falls; and many, many nieces and nephews. Harold was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Paul May; and his sisters, Genevieve (Sr. Stellan) and Norma Christ; and sisters- and brothers-in-law, Gerry and Millie Schweigert, Eileen and Bill Schaller, Irma and Gerry Osterman, Bernard and Alta Schweigert, Fred Schweigert, Alta Christ, and Elaine May. Harold loved his God, "his Bea," his immediate and extended family, the Wisconsin Badgers, and the Green Bay Packers. His love for the last two could change, depending on what kind of year they were having. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2016, with Father John Silva presiding. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery in Madison. Visitation will be held at the GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, and at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Thursday. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Endowment Fund, the Kutchera Memorial Library Fund at St. Paul's Catholic Center, or to St. Mary's Hospital. The May family would like to extend our greatest thanks to the caretakers at Heritage Assisted Living and Memory Care, and to Dr. Orest Kostelyna of the Dean Clinic. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420