April 26, 2019 – West Bend, WI – Mary J. Schmeling (nee Persha), 86, of West Bend was called home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at the Waterford in West Bend.
She was born on November 6, 1932 to the late Peter and Josephine (nee Dejanovich) Persha in Mayville, WI. On September 27, 1952 she was united in marriage to Marvin Schmeling in Mayville, WI. Together they raised their five children. Mary was a member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in West Bend. She loved gardening and would spend many hours outside tending to her many flower beds; she definitely had a green thumb. If you every visited her at her house you would often hear polka music. Every year Mary and Marv would be downtown for the entire German Fest weekend as well as they enjoyed taking drives and stopping somewhere for dinner. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Those Mary leaves behind to cherish her memory include her five children, Patti (Al) Rossa, Donna Schmeling, Steve (Jori) Schmeling, Mike Schmeling, and Carol (Steve) Preder; her eight grandchildren, Amanda, Jake, Lily, Alyssa, Macy, Maleigh, Jovie, and Ty Eli; two step-grandchildren, Samantha and Chaislyn; one great grandchild, William; her brother, Nicholas “Nick” Persha; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Schmeling; three brothers, Daniel (Vlasta) Mazar, Emil (Cathy) Persha, and Joseph (Marian) Persha; and three sisters, Helen (Norman) Uecker, Katherine “Kay” (George) Krause, and Ann (Nick) Stipanovic.
A funeral service in remembrance of Mary will be held on Friday, May 3, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at the Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Home, 1315 W. Washington St., West Bend.
The family will greet relatives and friends at the funeral home on Friday from 3:30 p.m. until the time of service.
Memorial to St. Judes or The Threshold in Mary’s name is appreciated by the family.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Waterford, who made her last home special for her and they encouraged and enjoyed her sense of humor and the nurses and staff at Heartland Hospice for all their help and care.
The family would like to also thank Charlie and Marita who were always there for her and former neighbors, Andy & Katie and Julia & Tyler who always kept in touch and other special neighbors Kathy, Jim, and Mary.
