Mary Rethwisch 1918-2003

RETHWISCH, FITZGERALD , WHELAN

Posted By: SGF (email)
Date: 8/6/2003 at 06:36:52

Mary Whelan Rethwisch, age 85, of Lansing, died Sunday, May 11, 2003, at Thornton Manor Nursing Home in Lansing. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 14 at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church in Lansing with Fr. Daniel Knipper officiating. Burial will be in Gethsemane Cemetery, Lansing. Thornburg Hanson Funeral Home in Lansing assisted the family with arrangements. Mary was born in Elma, Iowa, on January 12, 1918, to Roger and Teresa (Fitzgerald) Whelan. Following high school, she attended Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids for two years. She taught for four years at New Albin and Harpers Ferry. On March 9, 1942, she married Bernard Rethwisch at St. Joseph's Paint Rock Catholic Church in rural Harpers Ferry. From april 1942 to September 1945, she managed P.E. Rethwisch Lumberyard in Harpers Ferry while her husband served in the military during World War II.
Mary taught elementary school for many years. She worked at Northern Engraving in Lansing from the day they opened until she retired. She loved to fish and hunt and especially did a lot of squirrel hunting. Mary is survived by six sons, Bernard "Gus" Rethwisch of Portland, Ore., and Bill (Teri) Rethwisch, Tom (Sandy) Rethwisch, John (Laurie) Rethwisch, Fred (Nancy) Rethwisch, and Mark (Sally) Rethwisch, all of Lansing; 17 grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard; her brother, Joseph Whelan; and a niece, Amy. Honorary casketbearers are Billy, Matt, Tim, Alex, Mike, Brandon, and Zachery Rethwisch. Casketbearers are Bernard, Tom, Fred, Bill, John, and Mark Rethwisch.

©Waukon Standard 2003
-source: Waukon Standard May 15, 2003