Mary K. Best

Mary K. Best, 83, Mosinee passed away Saturday, August 29, 2026 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

She was born November 19, 1942 in Beaconsfield, Iowa, daughter of the late Vernon and Vera (McConnell) Lantz. On November 16, 1963 she married James Best in Minneapolis, MN. He preceded her in death on January 7, 2022.

Mary was a proud homemaker and mother. Some of her favorite pastimes included being active in Scouts, 4-H, TOPS, crocheting, crafts, reading, puzzles, crossword searches and bird watching.

Survivors include her children, Bill (Melissa) Best and Bob (Dana) Best, her grandchildren, Makayla Best, Carissa Best, Nicholas (Leah) Best, Grayson Best, Marshall Best, Brianna (Brian) Lewis, her step granddaughter, Destiny Schulz, her great grandchildren, Iyanna, Ezra and Braelynn and her two step great grandchildren, Atlas and Ares. She is further survived by her two sisters, Sue Jones and Bonnie French and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son Scott, a granddaughter, Hannah Best and a brother Bill Lantz.

A joint Celebration of Life for Mary and Jim will be held at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, September 24, 2026 at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until the time of services all at the Stewart Avenue funeral home. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Town of Maine. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Mary’s name. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com

Mary’s family would like to extend a sincere thank you to all the staff at Acorn Hills and the Aspirus Palliative Care Unit for the outstanding care they all shared with her during the time she spent with them.