Mabel Harris

Sun Prairie / Waunakee- Mabel L. Harris, age 94, passed away on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at the Waunakee Manor of natural causes. Mabel was born on July 28, 1917 in St. Johns, Michigan the daughter of Albert & Austie (Huggett) Waidelich. She was a 1935 graduate of Rodney B Wilson High School in St. Johns. Mabel married Robert G. Harris on August 16, 1937 in St. Johns. In the early years Mabel worked at various jobs, including working at J. C. Penny. In July of 1954 Robert and Mabel moved to Sun Prairie, when a fungal disease hit the peppermint and spearmint crops in Michigan, to start a new farm in Wisconsin. Over the years they operated several farms in the area. Mabel was always dedicated and devoted to her husband and family. She cooked and cleaned and counseled the whole family. She prepared meals for the farm hands and would take meals out to the fields during the busy harvest time. Mabel was always there to help. Over the years Mabel was an active member of Sun Prairie United Methodist Church and was a devoted Christian. As the children grew up and married, Mabel and Bob enjoyed each others company and enjoyed traveling around the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. They enjoyed camping and playing cards, but they especially enjoyed time with their children and grandchildren. For a while they wintered in Florida, but missed their family and eventually stayed in Wisconsin. In June 2005 Mabel moved to Waunakee Assisted Living.

Mabel will be dearly missed by her loving family: a daughter, Marilyn (Joseph) Branski; a son, Richard (Carolyn) Harris; 7 grandchildren, Amy (Shawn) Bell, Bryan Aderhold, Kathy (John) Micka, Mike (Jennifer) Branski, Julie (Mike) Fuller, Kelly (Loren) Jorgensen, and Laura Harris; 9 great grandchildren, Sam and Jack Micka, Bethany and Mason Bell, Charlie Branski, Estelle and Katherine Fuller, and Luke and Evan Jorgensen.
Mabel was preceded in death by: her parents; husband, Robert (1998); a daughter, Louise Aderhold (2005); 2 brothers, Alva and Albert, Jr; and by her sister, Opal Pyle.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 1:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 5763 County Road Q, Waunakee with the Reverends Kirk Morledge and Susan Vergeront officiating. Burial will be in Sun Prairie Memory Gardens. Friends may call at the Church from 11:00 am until time of service.
Memorials maybe in made in Mabel's memory to: The American Cancer Society; or The Alzheimer Association.
Mabel's family would sincerely like to thank the Waunakee Manor and Staff for the outstanding professional and tender care she received throughout her stay.