Mary K. Currie

PORTAGE—Mary K. Currie peacefully completed her life here on earth on September 18, 2017, and went to heaven.

Mary was born at Divine Savior Hospital on August 1, 1944. She is the daughter of the late John and Gertrude (nee Baker) Currie. The family lived on a farm in Buffalo Township, Marquette County, where Mary attended a one-room school and enjoyed raising a variety of animals including Cindy and Jody, her favorite horses, Susie the cow, Pricilla a pet donkey, Tocky the rooster, Herman the German, her sheep, white Samoyed Huskies named Husky and Andy, and her kitties named Sam and Ernie.

From 1956 through 1962, she resided and was a student at St. Coletta’s Boarding School in Jefferson. Her father passed away in 1978 and by 1984 she and her mother had moved to Pardeeville. When her mother became a resident of Divine Savior, from 1988 until her passing in 2007, Mary moved in with her half-sister in Portage. She had a terrific experience working at Northwoods Inc., participating and excelling as a Special Olympic athlete with a variety of gold medals for walking, running, bocce and bowling. Mary also enjoyed spending as many as seven weeks at camp each year. She learned to swim at camp in Westfield and spent a memorable week living in a tee-pee at Badger Camp in Prairie du Chien.

Traveling with her half-sisters, Mary loved Florida and posed with Mickey, Minnie and a photo album full of Disney characters. Everything Elvis was highlighted with Graceland and Nashville, TN, was an interesting trip. Her passion for country music made Branson, MO, and a week at its old yacht club the best of entertainment. Michigan and a ride on the ferry to Mackinaw Island was yet another family vacation Mary enjoyed.

Mary chose Divine Savior as her new home in February 2009 while recovering from a fall down a flight of stairs. She was always ready to chat and could usually be found socializing throughout the halls of Tivoli.

Survivors include her half-sister, Delores (John Ruth) Hartl; niece, Kathleen Hartl; other relatives, Susan (George) Ries of Florida and Sheila (Chuck) Leverentz of Eau Claire. She was preceded in death by her parents; uncles and aunts, Joe (Jean) and George Baker, Horace (Lou) Currie, Lona Currie and Florence Currie. She was also preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Conrad Hartl, Sr., nephew, Conrad Hartl, Jr., and niece, Susan Hartl Juliano. 

A Memorial Mass will be held at Tivoli in Portage, Wisconsin, on Friday, September 29, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., with Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl presiding. Burial will follow at St. Andrew’s Cemetery in Buffalo Township. Visitation will be at Tivoli from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.

A special thanks to the staff at Divine Savior Hospital and Tivoli Nursing Home.

Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.