Mary E. Stankowski

Mary Stankowski, 88, of Marathon, passed away peacefully on December 16th at Rennes Health and Rehab - Weston under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services. Mary was born September 10th, 1929 in Wausau to the late George and Helen (McEwen) Osterbrink. Raised on a dairy farm in Rib Mountain, she attended local schools and graduated from Wausau High School. On June 30th, 1951, she married Ernest Stankowski and celebrated the union at a dinner on the Osterbrink family farm. Mary and Ernie raised twelve children on a dairy farm in Marathon. In later years, they operated ginseng gardens in the surrounding community. When not working in her own gardens, Mary worked on neighboring ginseng farms. As the children left home, she found work in Wausau and Marshfield as a bank teller, a bookkeeper, a payroll specialist, and a cashier. Mary was one of the original cashiers at the Walmart in Rib Mountain where she worked until she retired at the age of 70. Mary enjoyed being active; she spent many years bowling on local teams, playing blackjack in area casinos, and supporting the local high school sports teams. As an avid sports fan, Mary watched the Green Bay Packers, the Wisconsin Badgers and area teams as they competed in football and basketball. The Milwaukee Brewers were a particular favorite, and she traveled to Milwaukee to support her team. Over the years the family continued to grow; Mary welcomed each new addition and especially enjoyed the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren always made her smile. She is survived by her husband, Ernest, eleven children: Diane Jensen, Golden, CO; Frank (Tina), Weston; Raymond (Sharon), Wausau; Joe (Karen), Amherst; Gene (Cindy), Schofield; Linda Lepak, Weston; Ernest (Donna), Wausau; Roger (Mary), Marathon; Randy (Melody), Wausau; Christine "Tina" (Rick) Lang, Wausau; Jeff (Jeanette), Marathon; and daughter-in-law, Wanda Stankowski, Wausau; 28 grandchildren: Brian Jensen, Kristin Jensen, Jackie (Dan) Kluever, Justin Stankowski, Jennifer (Nick) Rabchenia, Matthew (Jillian) Stankowski, Tamera (Eric) Chernohorsky, Tanya (Mark) Wilde, Adam Stankowski, Alexi (Megan) Stankowski, Tim Trantow, Dominic Stankowski, Amber (Eric) Lokemoen, Nicole and Miranda Price, Zachary Stankowski, Brianna (Chad) Boreman, Mitchell Stankowski, Sean Stankowski, Jacob (Mandi) Stankowski, Christopher and Steven Stankowski, Krystal (Matthew) Prinsen, Kaitlyn and Kyle Lang, Jeff Railsback, Cody and Dylan Stankowski; 20 great grandchildren and her siblings: Joe Osterbrink, Augusta, GA; Ruth DeLonay, Milwaukee; Jim Osterbrink, Milwaukee; and Agnes Jelic, Theresa. She is proceeded in death by her parents; brother, George Osterbrink, Jr.; son, Ronald Stankowski; Son-in-law, Roger Jensen; and grandsons, Jeremy and James Stankowski. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 23rd, 2017 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Halder. Reverend Felix Tigoy and Reverend Robert Streveler will officiate, and interment will follow at the St. Patrick's Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Petersen/Kraemer Funeral Home in Marathon from 4:00 PM to 8:00PM on Friday evening with a rosary at 7:30 PM. Visitation on Saturday will be at St. Patrick's Catholic Church from 9:00 AM until the time of services. The family wishes to thank the staff of both Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services, especially Carrie, and Rennes Health and Rehab for the caring and compassionate support given to our family.