Mary Josephine "Mary Jo" Schaffner

MADISON - Mary Josephine “Mary Jo” Schaffner, age 82, left this earth to be with the Lord on Monday, October 12, 2026. Our beloved mother, aunt, sister and grandmother was born on January 7, 1944, in Madison. However, as a child, Mary enjoyed playing and exploring the back-hills and countryside of Kentucky. She loved to travel “down south” during the summers to visit her grandma and grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins, since her mother was born and raised in Kentucky they made regular trips to the area. This sparked Mary’s love to travel, and she continued to spend vacations exploring the U.S.A.

Mary graduated from East High School in Madison. She attended church and was baptized at age 18. She said her favorite times as a teenager and young adult was meeting new people, going places with friends, meeting up at the Soda Fountain and cruising “the circuit” in Madison.  She met her husband, Bob, when she was 22 years old, and they were married on October 15, 1966.  Six years later, in 1972 Mary and Bob had a son, Michael. They loved to travel, camp, and explorer together.  Then her husband, Bob, died unexpectedly in 1991. Mary was widowed for 35 years. She was such a strong woman living independently all these years.  Her faith in God, and her love for Jesus kept her strong. She witnessed and ministered to many people over the years and knew that one day she would be called Home to Heaven where she would be reunited with her mother, her husband, and several friends who had gone before her.

In Mary’s earlier years she worked for the State of Wisconsin in data entry and then moved on to Nicolet Instruments, where she was the Development Assistant Coordinator, and then the Specifications Coordinator for the Bio Medical Team. She helped with specifications for Spectrometers. For a brief period, she tried her skills as a Realtor for Stark Company, but decided that was “not my cup of tea.” Most notably, she enjoyed working at the UW Foundation where she helped to coordinate events and worked closely with donors. Her most favorite and most important job in the world was working at home, being a mom, lovingly nurturing and raising her son, Michael.

Autum was always her most favorite time of the year. She loves the crisp cool air and the colorful falling leaves. So, it was only fitting she spent her last days either on the patio, or looking out the window at Agrace Hospice, seeing the beautiful, colorful trees, and the leaves falling; as she waited for the Lord to call her home. Mary loved “Southern Gospel” music.  She loved laughter and people; everyone she met loved her sense of humor.  She was always able to get a little laugh out of people.  Even during her final days, she was making people smile and laugh with her humor.  She had a special gift of storytelling, and the ability to make stories come to life. Mary loved Elvis, back in the day, and was once a member of the “Tony Rocker Fan Club” enjoying outings with friends to watch him perform. She loved dogs, all dogs, but poodles and boxers were her favorite. Besides taking vacations and traveling, Mary’s hobbies were listening to music, writing, art, reading, stained glass projects, antiques, cooking, collecting recipes and trying them out.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Allen and Lessie (Burdine) Steele; her husband, Robert “Bob” Schaffner; and many close friends who have gone before her. She is survived by her son, Michael (Melissa) Schaffner; grandchildren, Calvin, Isabelle and Jack; “bonus daughter” and niece, Kerri (Bradley) Frisch; sister, Lois (Steele) Green; brother, Michael (Kathi) Steele; other important nieces and nephews, Kathy (Bill) Foust, Scott (Donna) Decker, Sara Steele, Kate (Mitch) Luther and Beth (Erek) Kucher; along with many great-nieces and nephews, and many (too many to list) great-great-nieces and nephews she called her “adopted grandchildren.”

She will be missed by many. 

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the love, support, prayers, and kindness shown to them during this time.  We will miss her dearly; however we know she is with our Lord and Savior Jesus, and we celebrate her eternal life.

A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 12 noon on Monday, October 26, 2026. Burial will take place at Highland Memory Gardens followed by a luncheon at the funeral home. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420