Mary Smithback

Stoughton- Mary Elizabeth (Scheldrup) Smithback, died peacefully at Azura Memory Care on Monday, August 7, 2017 in Stoughton, Wisconsin at the age of 86.
Mary was born on July 21, 1931 in Stoughton, WI to Fritz and Lillian (Bohling) Scheldrup. She loved sharing memories of her childhood in Stoughton - riding her pony which they kept in the backyard and gathering with extended family for picnics, birthdays and holidays. She graduated from Stoughton High School in 1949 and married Edward "Ed" Smithback, Jr., her high school sweetheart, in 1952. Over the next ten years, the couple welcomed three children, Gary, Julie, and Amy, into their lives. Mary was a dedicated member of Covenant Lutheran Church and Entre Nous Study Club. She and Ed enjoyed getting together for card club with her high school friends. Mary and Ed shared wonderful memories of their getaways at Lake Delton and Sanibel Island with family and friends. Together with their children, they saw much of the USA in their motor home and later in life, enjoyed taking their children and grandchildren on ski and beach vacations. She especially enjoyed trips with Ed to Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Norway - 3 times!
Mary always wanted to be a teacher, and in 2014, as a part of Azura Memory Care's Dream Come True program, she received an Honorary Teaching Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education.
Above all, Mary loved her family, and especially doted upon her eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Mary is survived by her children, Gary (Ellen), Stoughton, WI; Amy (Michael) Johnson, McKinney, TX; son-in-law, Mat Haeger, Milton, WI; brother, Arthur "Art" Scheldrup, Arlington Heights, IL; sister-in-law, Ruby Scheldrup, Stoughton, WI; grandchildren, Jessica (Michael) Margowski, Chicago, IL; Thomas (Christina) Walsh, Shoreline, WA; Solveig (Jonathan) Schroerlucke, Stoughton, WI; Signe (Chad) Hugghins, McKinney, TX; Andrew (Carla) Haeger, Beloit, WI; Karl (Stacy) Smithback, Mt. Horeb, WI; Siri Smithback, Portland, OR; Keifer Walsh, Dothan, AL; great grandchildren, Pierce, Hendrix & Avelyn Haeger; Birkelo Hugghins; Eowyn Schroerlucke; Anders Smithback. She is preceded in death by her parents, Fritz and Lillian Scheldrup; her husband, Edward Smithback, Jr.; her daughter, Julie Haeger; her siblings, Sidney "Sid" Scheldrup, Owen "Bud" Scheldrup, Jeanette Nelson; her brother-in-law Roy Nelson; her sister-in-law, Donna Scheldrup.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Covenant Lutheran Church, Stoughton, WI. Burial will take place in West Koshkonong Cemetery. Friends and relatives are invited to a luncheon in the church fellowship hall. Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of services at church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Mary's memory to Alzheimer's Association, 2820 Walton Commons, Suite 132, Madison, WI 53718 or Agrace Hospice, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711. The family wishes to express their thanks to the staff at Azura for Mary's continued care.
Please share your memories of Mary at: www.CressFuneralService.com .
Cress Funeral Service
206 W. Prospect Street
Stoughton, WI 53589
(608) 873-9244