Mary Rowlette

Middleton:  Mary Rowlette, age 74, passed away on January 23, 2021 at Agrace HospiceCare  surrounded by her family. She was born December 30, 1946 in Chilton, WI, the daughter of Elmer and Helen Kolbe.

Mary grew up on her parent’s farm and enjoyed the community closeness she felt from growing up in a small town. She pursued her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of WI-Stevens Point. She then began her teaching career in New London and completed her Master’s in Business Education at Northern Arizona University. Mary spent her teaching summers traveling and visiting friends. She enjoyed skiing in the winter and led student ski trips to Colorado and surrounding states. Mary worked at IBM as a Systems Engineer from the mid 70s until 1992. She left IBM to return to teaching Business courses in the Middleton school district until she retired.

Mary loved gardening, baking, investing and was very active in her church and faith. She led Bible studies and prayer groups as well as served on the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Council. She also volunteered at a local Senior Center where she prayed with residents and provided entertainment by playing the piano and accordion. Mary had a huge heart and a passion for helping others. Her cheerful, generous personality will be missed by so many.

Mary is survived by her children, Joseph Rowlette (Lisa Mattke) and Christine (Dennis) Whiting. She was a proud grandmother to Miles and Parker Whiting and was honored to be Parker’s Godmother. She enjoyed her grandchildren immensely. Mary will also be missed by her cousins and many other friends at her church and in the community.  Her parents and sister, Rosie Schneiderwent, preceded her in death.

We will miss her tenacity, big hugs, “Grandma breads” and her ability to stretch a dollar.

Funeral services will be held at 11am on Friday, January 29, 2021 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church 602 Everglade Dr., Madison, WI.   A live stream of the service will be available on the church website www.stamadison.org.  Visitation will begin at 10am. Guests are encouraged to wear colors to the funeral.  Entombment will be at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Mary’s honor to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church or to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

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