Mary Ann Fix

Mary Ann Fix died on July 1, 2024. She was a true friend to every person who was fortunate enough to know her; a beautiful giving soul full of gentle caring and kindness. Mary always jumped at the chance to help, support, uplift, encourage and listen to anyone. Everyone who knew her has stories of all she did for them and about her huge heart. She was strong and independent and a powerful voice for human rights and equality, education, and advocacy.

Mary was born on January 7, 1947, in Phillips, Wisconsin, to Clifton Fonstad, Sr. and Grace (Fleischauer) Fonstad. She grew up in Greenwood where her dad was the school principal. Her family moved to Mauston in 1963 and she graduated from Mauston High School in 1965. In 1967, while Mary was in college at Stevens Point, her family moved to Madison.

After finishing college at UW Madison, Mary taught math at Tomah High School. There she met Steven Fix who was teaching history. They married in Madison on April 1, 1972. Mary and Steve complemented each other perfectly. Their marriage was filled with love, laughter, respect, strength, adventure, entertainment, and countless stories.

Mary taught in Madison until 1976 when she and Steve moved to New Haven, Connecticut, and then to St. Louis, Missouri. After moving back to Madison in 1978, Mary worked in a variety of school related jobs while raising their children, Peter and Ann. Mary was a much loved math teacher at Memorial High School for many years, firmly holding high expectations for her students while making education fun and interesting and encouraging her students abilities and affirming their worth. She remained a strong advocate of education and supporter of teachers after her retirement.

Mary and Steve were the best parents imaginable, incredible role models, and always there for their children. They taught their children the importance of laughter, smiles, and positive memories in life and how to be strong, loving, kind, and appreciative individuals. Mary and Steve became Pete and Ann’s best friends when Pete and Ann reached adulthood themselves.

Mary had lifelong interests in nature, birding, gardening, cooking, sewing and quilting, reading, and, most of all, family.

Her interest in nature grew out of the many camping trips the family took while she was growing up. There were trips to state parks in Wisconsin and national parks and places like Mesa Verde, Banff, Cape Cod and Cumberland Gap, summer vacations to family lake cottages in Waupaca (the Fonstad side) and Cranberry Lake near Cable (the Fleischauer side), hikes along the Black River and through the school forest in Greenwood, drives and hikes through the sand and bluff country around Mauston, and picnics and hikes around Madison.

Mary and her mother loved to get up early and go to Goose Pond and other bird haunts around Madison to go bird watching. Mary always had her binoculars handy and delighted in telling friends and family about her latest sightings. She could name birds just by hearing their songs.

Gardening was something everyone did in Greenwood when Mary was growing up. The tractor would come in spring and plow the field next to the family home and she would help her mother hand till the soil and raise food for the table. Mary grew amazing flowers, prairie plants, and produce at her Madison homes. She continued gardening after she and Steve moved to an east side condominium where she established and managed a garden club to help beautify the grounds. She helped her daughter with her gardens. It was an annual family adventure to plan what to plant and when to sow each type of plant, shop for the seeds or starter plants, and get them into the garden plots.

Both Mary’s grandmothers, as well as her mother, were famous in the family as phenomenal cooks. Mary had all their recipes and constantly collected and tried new ones, often reading cookbooks for enjoyment and to gather ideas for upcoming meals. She delighted in hosting family and friends for meals she cooked and loved bringing people together through delicious food. After her husband died in 2016, Mary cooked family dinner every Thursday evening for Peter and Ann and Ann’s husband Terek. Her granddaughter Matilda was added to the gatherings when she was born in 2019. Peter and Ann have both proudly cooked meals for family and friends with rave reviews using recipes Mary passed down to them. Mary loved cooking and baking with Ann and Matilda and was excited to pass her cooking skills and passion on to her granddaughter.

Mary was a wonderful seamstress. She designed custom Halloween costumes for the family, made bibs for many babies, created gorgeous quilts for her family and the Waupaca cottage, shortened, hemmed and repaired clothes for family and friends, made beautiful cloth placemats and napkins as gifts and for her own home, crafted marvelous stuffed toys, and loved playing with her fancy sewing machine and experimenting with new sewing projects.

When Mary wasn’t birding, gardening, cooking or sewing, she was often reading a book. She always had a couple of books she was reading, often mystery novels. She supported libraries in New London, Waupaca, Colby, Greenwood and Madison.

After she retired, Mary worked as an election official for the City of Madison, working on voter registration, in person absentee voting, and as a chief inspector. Mary spent many hours volunteering at Ann’s elementary school library and volunteered at Olbrich Gardens for years as well.

Mary’s granddaughter Matilda (“Bean”) was a constant source of joy for her (“Num Na”). Num Na treasured her time with Matilda and they spent time together a couple of times or more each week. They adored each other and Mary was so proud of her kind, loving, hilarious, spunky, strong, and empathetic granddaughter.

Mary is survived by her children, Peter Fix and Ann (Terek) Taillon; granddaughter, Matilda Taillon; and brothers, Clifton (Carmenza) Fonstad, Jr. and Eric (Bridget) Fonstad. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Steven Fix; and parents, Clifton and Grace Fonstad.

An informal gathering of family and friends to celebrate Mary’s life will take place at Hawks Landing Golf Club, 88 Hawks Landing Circle, Verona, on Friday, August 9th, between 11 AM and 3 PM. In lieu of memorials or flowers, the family asks that you be kind to our fine-feathered friends, support educators, get out and vote, do something special for your loved ones, hold your family and friends close, and think of Mary the next time you share a home-cooked meal.