Mary Varsos

In Loving Memory

Mary Ann Varsos passed away Wednesday, September 17, 2014 after a brief illness. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 6, 1926. She was the daughter of Clare and Ellen Culbertson of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. She attended Wauwatosa East High school and Milwaukee State Teacher's College, majoring in speech therapy. It was there she met her husband of 66 years, Milton Varsos. During World War II Mary worked for the Department of the Navy as a supervisor in a factory manufacturing airplane parts. Mary was a lover of nature and, in particular, birds. That love brought her to spend several years as a guide on her beloved Cherokee Marsh. Her enthusiasm for birds spilled over to her children and their spouses and even to her great grandchildren. This was a great joy to Mary. She was proud of the fact that she got to join in the condor mating dance performed to inspire the first California condor to breed in captivity. She was an early member of Madison's Equal Opportunities Commission, active in state and local P.T.A. activities, and was involved in many local, state and national causes during the 60's and 70's. Mary was a great patron of the arts in Madison. She was a skilled seamstress and known for her creative designs. She and her husband enjoyed traveling, canoeing, evenings on their screened porch, their dogs and, of course, bird watching.
In the early 1950's Milton and Mary moved to Madison where they remained throughout their lives.

Mary had four children, Susan (David), Claire "Carrie", Jim (Cyndi) and Steve (Flip). She also had six grandchildren, Michael, Lisa, Laura, Shaun, Tamara, Sara and eight great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Milton Varsos and her sister Ruth Hapke.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Cherokee Marsh Conservation fund at www.cherokeemarsh.org

A private family service will be held.