Mary Jean (Smith) McGrath

OREGON-Mary Jean (Smith) McGrath left the arms of her family on Monday, July 16, 2018, in Stoughton, Wis.  She was born on Aug. 6, 1925, on a farm in Nashua, Iowa as the first child of Thomas and Dorothy (Keith) Smith. As the eldest daughter, Mary Jean assumed from an early age the role of second mother to the eleven brothers and sisters who were to follow. She also pitched in at an early age in the kitchen to help her mother feed a growing family and hired hands as well. Mary Jean learned how to bake from her mother and specialized in turning out pies as well as bread and other baked goods. She used the cooking skills learned in an Iowa farm kitchen to feed and nourish her future family and any others who were welcome at her table.  Like all other farm families in Iowa, Mary Jean attended a one room country school for grades K-8. She later attended and graduated from Nashua High School. Mary Jean was also a member of her local 4H club and was honored as the Chickasaw County (Iowa) Health Champion. Tragically, Mary Jean soon contracted polio, which is thought to have happened when she was in Des Moines for the state championship competition. She was fortunate enough to recover and gain back her health. This was no doubt due to the love, care and nursing skills of her mother. Mary Jean said that "every good thing I am, I was given by my mother."  After graduating from high school, she earned a teaching certificate from Iowa State Teachers College in Ames, Iowa. She taught at two different country schools during World War II. Transportation to teach at the schools was by horseback. Since Mary Jean readily admitted she was no horse woman, her father saddled the horse and she rode it to the school, but later had her younger sister, Elva give her a ride to and from the school. Mary Jean was not only teacher to her pupils, she also had to start the wood stove that provided the heat for the school. She also attended to any medical needs and emergencies as well as putting on pageants and plays as the schools provided the social exposure and cultural entertainment for the farm families.  It was during this time that Mary Jean started dating and became engaged to L. Robert McGrath, who was a Nashua boy two years her senior who served in the Mighty Eighth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Corps in the European Theater of World War II. Bob was demobilized in December, 1945 and came home to his future bride. They were married in Nashua on May 30, 1946. Bob enrolled at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa to study engineering on the GI Bill. The young couple moved into war surplus quonset huts which were being used for married student housing. Living conditions were sparse, but Mary Jean fondly recalled those days as the young veterans and their wives were starting families and many friendships were made in the community that they formed. Mary Jean and Bob started their own family with the birth of Todd in 1947, followed by Tim in 1949. Bob got a job with Allis-Chalmers in West Allis, Wisconsin after graduation and the young family moved east.  Family housing was scarce in post war years but the young family eventually found an apartment in Greenfield, Wis. They later bought a nearby lot from their landlord and built a one-room house where they lived while they built on to that a three bedroom ranch style home.  They lived without indoor plumbing while the house was being built.  Mary Jean said she did all her cooking and bread baking with only one Nesco roaster pan.  Mary Jean, Todd and Tim all helped Bob build their house, with the help of a few friends and neighbors.  It was finished after the birth of the twins, Kerry and Kevin in 1952.  Bob built the whole house without using a single power tool.  Mary Jean filled that house with love and gave birth to Nancy in 1956, Mary Barbara in 1961 and Lance in 1967. Mary Jean also welcomed George, a foreign exchange student from Uganda, who lived with our family from 1966-67. Bob got a promotion in 1968, so Mary Jean moved her family to Columbia, S.C., in 1968. She was very homesick and upset to move so far away from family but soon grew to love her new home. Mary Jean and her family moved again in 1974, to Cedarburg, Wisconsin when Bob took a job with Simplicity Manufacturing. Mary Jean started a career in real estate and enjoyed much success through a very difficult business environment. She and Bob also went on a trip to China and Tibet in 1987, as part of an outreach program. She was proud and amazed that two small town kids from Iowa could have such an experience. Bob was already retired and he finally convinced Mary Jean to retire as well. They then moved to Oregon, Wisconsin to be closer to family. Mom cared for Bob until his passing in 2007. She worked so hard to keep them together until she was overwhelmed and had to seek help. It broke her heart that she survived her two older sons, Todd and Tim. Mary Jean moved into an assisted living facility in 2016, and spent her last days there.  Mary Jean McGrath was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Besides being a loving and faithful wife she also provided a happy and safe home for her children. Raising a big family on one income was something she mastered and she prided herself in stretching the dollar by scrimping and saving. Mary Jean cooked and baked from scratch, and canned, froze and pickled garden vegetables and fruit so as to put good and wholesome food on the table. She always told us that "we didn't have much but we always had enough to eat."  Mary Jean also nursed and cared for all her children through all the times they were sick. This she accomplished with a combination of country medicine and the healing balm of a mother's love.  During the last hours of her life, Mary Jean's family all remarked about her hands. These were the hands that held and fed her babies, that cooked and baked for her family, that sewed her children’s clothes and quilts for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and crocheted afghans for her family. These were the hands on the arms that she opened to all in need and to any family member that needed a hug. She also used those hands to knead the dough for her famous homemade bread, cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls.  She was a devout Christian woman who lived her faith, prayed every day and believed in angels. She taught Sunday school and took her children to church. She was a small town Iowa farm girl who had a wonderful tolerance for different people and cultures. Mary Jean believed that we are all God’s children and that all are welcome at the Lord's Table.  We, her family, were all taught the value of love, charity and hope.  She may have quit riding a horse, but she remained a teacher all her life.  We her family are now full of grief and sorrow but also gratitude. We are so grateful that we had this remarkable woman in our lives. She had a heroic life that made her family marvel at what she endured and overcame. Mary Jean was our biblical matriarch who led us to the Promised Land. Her eyes were bluer than the sky, her smile as warm as the sun, her laughter made the birds sing and her heart though now still, will sooth our souls in the days and years ahead.  Mary Jean is survived by a daughter-in-law, Susan McGrath, daughters, Kerry (Russell) Wilson, Nancy (Stephan) Krumrei and Mary Barbara (James) Hixon; sons, Kevin McGrath and Lance (Emily) McGrath; and grandchildren, Brendan McGrath, Erica Hellestad, Molly McGrath, Bradley Wuotila, Sean McGrath, Mallory Williams, Zach and Marcia Wilson, Emily Wilson, Garret Anderson, Paul Torgerson, Nikki Tobias, Dru Tobias, Natalie Krumrei, Ramsey Zakaria, Stephanie Krumrei, Sean Christensen, Mallory Krumrei, Katherine Hixon, Brian Hixon, Trevor Hixon, Cole Hixon, Taylor McGrath, Kelsey McGrath, Payton McGrath and Colin McGrath. Mary Jean was also Grandma MJ to Kara, Mya, Justin, Cinnamon, Olivia and Jacob. Great-grandchildren include, Charlie Campbell, Sierra Tobias, Dominic Christensen, Catalina Wilson, Nora McGrath, Samuel Wilson, Lucy Wuotila, Willa McGrath and Remy Anderson; sisters-in-law, Emma McGrath and Dorothy Smith; sisters, Vivian Carter, Hattie (Chuck) Pyatt, Janice Feldman, Elva Spetz and Barbara (Gene) Maakestad; and brothers Tod (Letha) Smith and Jeff (Rose) Smith.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; son, Timothy McGrath; daughter-in-law, Rita McGrath; and son, Todd McGrath. She is further preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, Daniel and Ethel McGrath; brothers, Keith Smith, David and his wife, Lorraine Smith and Richard Leslie; sister Phyliss Joan; brothers-in-law, Donald Schultz, Kenneth Feldman, William Carter and William Spetz. On the McGrath side of her family Mary Jean was preceded in death by, in-laws, Burke McGrath, Gene and May McGrath, Merle and Ruth McGrath, Marilyn and Don Rassmussen and Gerald McGrath; and sister-in-law, Carol McGrath.  Funeral services will be held at PEOPLE'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 103 North Alpine Parkway, Oregon, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 21, 2018, with the Rev. Kate Sweet presiding. Burial will be held at Prairie Mound Cemetery. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON OREGON FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 1150 Park St., Oregon, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, July 20, 2018, and at the church from 2 p.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Memorials may be made to People's United Methodist Church and Agrace HospiceCare.  The family would like to thank the staffs of Milestone Senior Living Center in Stoughton and Agrace HospiceCare, Janesville for the loving care that you gave her. Also, Dr. Adam Balin for being Mary Jean's wonderful family doctor. A special thank you to her spiritual guide and friend, Susan Payne. Also thanks to her many nieces and nephews of whom Mary Jean was so proud.  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson Oregon Funeral & Cremation Care 1150 Park Street (608) 835-3515