Fourth Generation

125. Mary Ellen Ann GOETZ was born on 21 November 1932 in Monroe County, WI.^9,95 She died on 20 May 2022 at the age of 89 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁵ Obituary Notes: "Mary Ellen A. Stees, 89 of Tomah passed away on Friday, May 20, 2022, at Tomah Health. She was born on November 21, 1932 to Fred and Stella (Cunitz) Goetz on Summit Ridge. Mary Ellen attended country grade school on Summit Ridge which was within walking distance from the family farm. She was a member of the Tomah High School Graduating Class of 1951.

On September 14, 1957, Mary Ellen was united in marriage to Jerry L. Stees at Summit Ridge. He preceded her in death on November 22, 2015. Earlier on Mary Ellen worked for the Power and Light Company in Tomah. Upon Jerry’s return from Fort Lewis, they started a family and Mary Ellen fell into the role of wife, mother, and homemaker. Together, Mary Ellen and Jerry purchased the Neitzel Furniture Mart, where they were the owner/operators for several years. Later in life, Mary Ellen worked for F&M Bank in the vault.

First and foremost, Mary Ellen was an extremely proud mother and grandmother. Spending time with her grandchildren was of the utmost importance and she dearly loved baking and playing games with them. So many fond and precious memories have been made throughout the years. She also enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, reading especially the local newspapers, playing cribbage and in her younger years she enjoyed bowling. Mary Ellen had a pleasant and likeable demeanor. She wasn’t one to complain and was strong spirited. She will be forever remembered as a wonderful mother and grandmother.

She is survived by their children, Mark (Cheryl) and Lynn (Jon) Reisinger all of Tomah, grandchildren, Megan and Emily Reisinger, Matthew (fiancé Alyssa Vinz) Stees, and Nolan Stees, siblings, Betty Hedrick of Vista, CA, Darlene (Dale) Wagner of Franklin, WI, Helen Bailey of Tomah, and Larry (Jane) Goetz of Wausau, and a sister-in-law, Sherry Nordstrom.

Preceded in death by her husband, Jerry, sister, Alyce Rose Hegge, brothers-in-law, Dick Hegge, Joe Hedrick and Dean Nordstrom.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will held on Tuesday, May, 24, 2022, 10:30 AM at Queen of Apostles Parish at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 303 W. Monroe Street, Tomah, WI. Father Sam McCarty will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited for a time of visitation on Tuesday at the church from 9:30 AM until the time of the service.

The Stees family would like to extend a special thank you of gratitude to all the staff of Tomah Health for the excellent care provided to Mary Ellen."

Mary Ellen Ann GOETZ and Jerry L. STEES were married on 14 September 1957 in Summit Ridge, Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁶ Jerry L. STEES was born on 30 April 1936 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁶ He died on 22 November 2015 at the age of 79 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁶

Obituary Notes: "Jerry L. Stees, 79, of Tomah died Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, at the Tomah Memorial Hospital. He was born April 30, 1936, to Doral and Minnie (Lanke) Stees in Tomah. Jerry was a member of the Tomah High School graduating class of 1954. He proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. National Guard.

On Sept. 14, 1957, Jerry was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Goetz at Summit Ridge. He was stationed at Fort Lewis Washington, with the 732nd Division Maintenance Battalion. Jerry worked for many years at Camp Williams, and also at Fort McCoy. Jerry also worked as an independent insurance agent for many years. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting and skeet shooting. Jerry was also an accomplished woodworker, spending countless hours in his wood shop. Jerry had a variety of projects that he worked on, most recently making a whole series of wood fish decoys. Jerry was a very proud grandfather, spending time with his grandchildren was always the utmost priority. He took great pride in passing on any knowledge and life experiences that he could share with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed making things for them, wooden rocking horses were just one of many gifts that Jerry loved to make for them. Jerry was a very thoughtful man. He had a quite unwavering devotion to his family and friends, considering himself fortunate to have so many great people in his life. He was a member of Queen of the Apostles Parish, the Boy Scouts of American-Eagle Scout, a member of the Warrens Rod and Gun club and a past member of the Tomah Jaycees.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Ellen; a son, Mark (Cheryl); a daughter, Lynn (Jon) Reisinger; all of Tomah; four grandchildren, Megan and Emily Reisinger and Matthew and Nolan Stees; and a sister, Sherry Nordstrom of Poinciana, Fla. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother-in-law, Dean Nordstrom.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015, at Queen of the Apostles Parish at St. Mary’s Church. Msgr. Richard W. Gilles officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery."

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Mary Ellen Ann GOETZ and Jerry L. STEES had the following children: