Obituary
Mary Elizabeth (Collins) Merfeld
Mary Elizabeth (Collins) Merfeld, age 79, passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 in her sleep at Onalaska Care Center.
She was born September 6, 1935 in La Crosse, WI to Gifford and Rita (Roggensack) Collins.
She attended St. James Catholic School and Aquinas High School, graduating in 1953.
She loved to travel all the back roads seeking antiques and had her own selling space at the North Side Antique Center. She was a “picker” before “pickers” were cool.
On November 27, 1954 she married William Merfeld. They were married for 52 years, before Bill passed away on December 10, 2006. Mary was a proud and supportive wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Mary loved the warm, sunny beaches and spending time with her family. For many years Mary and her family spent time in Cancun, Mexico. She loved to play penny ante poker with her lifelong friends. In spite of her many health issues, she maintained a wonderful sense of humor.
She is survived by six children, three sons: Gary (Judy) of West Salem, Tom (Patti) of Onalaska, and Steve (Nancy) of Holmen; three daughters: Ellen (Rick) Molzahn of Onalaska, Susan (David) Ganschow of La Crosse, and Maureen Dolan of Hokah, MN. She is further survived by nine grandchildren: Brad (JoHannah) Merfeld, Andy Merfeld, Jill Greve (Jonathon Cornell) and Jay Merfeld, Ryan Weibel (Ashley Johnson), Christina (Pat) Pollex, Kelsey (Derek) Newman, Claire Ganschow, Matthew Dolan and two great- grandchildren, Hailey and Lincoln Pollex. She is also survived by eleven siblings, six brothers: Rich (Kate) of Charlottesville, VA, Mike (Alice) of Long Grove, IL, Tim (Cheryl) , Terry (Karolyn), Bill (Jean) Collins of La Crosse, Mark (Millie) Collins of Hannibal, MO, and five sisters: Patty Harding of Onalaska, Kathleen (Jim) Donskey of Phoenix, AZ, Jeanne Collins (Jim Bayorgeon) of Appleton, WI, Sheila (Steve) Yates of Burnsville, MN and Julie Andersen (Mike Germscheid) of St. Paul, MN and three sisters-in-law: Phyllis Schmidt and Burdeen Merfeld of La Crosse and Jan (Jim) Jungen of Durango, CO, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was proceeded in death by her parents, Gifford and Rita Collins, father and mother-in-law, John and Ellen Merfeld, niece, Nicole Eilertson, brothers-in-law, Donald, Raymond and Pete Merfeld, and sisters-in-law, Marian Olloff, Dorothy Christen, Jean Miller and Darlene Weber.
A funeral mass will be held on Friday, February 20, 2015 at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral, 530 Main St., La Crosse. Msgr. Charles Stoetzel will officiate. Visitations will on Thursday, February 19th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Coulee Region Cremation Group, 133 Mason St., Onalaska, and also from 9:00 am until mass at the Cathedral on Friday.
Good-bye Mary, mom, grandma and great-grandma – you will remain in our hearts forever and you will be missed!
Peace and rest, Mary.
Thank you for being a good neighbor to my parents; your visits were always a pleasure for Uncle Bob and Aunt Norma.
Sympathy to the family, especially the children & grandchildren.
Condolences to all my cousins and their families.
Alice, Dennis, Carol, Mary, Paul, Janette, Neil