Mary A Pertzborn

Mary A. Pertzborn, age 88, passed away peacefully in her sleep April 8, 2024. Mary was a long time resident of the Reedsburg Senior Life Center. In the early dawn of the recent solar eclipse, Mary was soon found by staff to have passed away. She fought a stoic battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Mary remained strong through her battle. Many days you would find Mary in a cheerful mood with laughter and love. One could tell she became lifted in spirit to see a familiar face to sing along with.

Mary was born March 6, 1936 in Reedsburg. The oldest daughter to Joseph and Iva McIntyre. She was raised in the Elroy and Hillsboro townships. She graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1954. Mary’s love for humanity and her concerns for one another is what drew her towards a career in Health care. Even before graduating high school, she volunteered as a candy striper in the local hospital. Soon after that, she was accepted into St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Madison and graduated in 1957. She specialized in neonatal care. Mary worked at the Madison VA Hospital, then in various NICU units in Rochester, New York. She then moved back home to Wisconsin to work at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison also in the NICU. Later in her career she worked in Geriatrics for Attic Angels. Mary became the nursing home manager of the nursing staff, then becoming a social worker there.

August 22, 1959 Mary married Wayne Pertzborn in Madison, WI. They had four children, Michael Pertzborn of Reno, NV, Jane Jackson (deceased), Andrew Pertzborn (deceased), and Thomas Pertzborn of Mount Horeb. Together they are grandparents of three granddaughters, Delia Pertzborn of Madison, Kimberly Newman of Madison Heights, MI, and Alexa Pertzborn of Reno, NV. In recent years Mary became a great grandmother of Aria and Mathias Pertzborn of Reno, NV.

The Pertzborns retired to Dutch Hollow Lake in LaValle in 1992. Together they built their dream home. Many times in the afternoon you would find Mary staining all the wood that was to cover the entire ceiling. She loved lake life. There wasn't a day that would go by that Wayne wasn't by her side, especially in later years spending time with her for lunch and dinner at the Senior Life Center. When living at Dutch Hollow, they met many close friends throughout the years. Mary loved to read. She spent many afternoons on the deck enjoying a book in the shade. She could finish a book in a short matter of time. At cocktail hour, they would gather on the pontoon for a game of cards and drinks. Mary was a great trivia player. She could answer most Jeopardy questions quickly. She enjoyed Wheel of Fortune and would have made a great contestant if only gotten the chance.

Mary made monthly donations to St. Jude’s, ASPCA, PBS, and the Nature Conservancy. Mary also was a world traveler. She made many trips that span the planet that was always spent by Wayne’s side and their best friends Ron and Ann Longua, Joe and Gil Schlimgan, and John and Jerri Erickson. 

She is survived by her husband Wayne; sons Mike (Bridget) Pertzborn and Tom Pertzborn; sister Karen Young; granddaughters Delia, Kim, and Alexa; son in law Bob Jackson; great grandchildren Mathias and Aria Pertzborn; daughter in heart Marika Lang ; and many loving nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Iva McIntyre; parents in law Alois and Leila Pertzborn; son Andrew Pertzborn; daughter Jane Jackson; brother Robert McIntyre; nephew Sean McIntyre; Aunt Myrtle Cobbledick; brother in law Larry Young; sister in law Judy McIntyre; great nephew Colin McIntyre; great nephew Nick Rizzio; Anita Kuhner; and daughter in law Sacia Kane.

The Pertzborn family would like to express a huge thank you for the loving and professional care Mary received throughout the years at the Reedsburg Senior Life Center. Our gratitude is never ending to the staff. We would like to thank Dan Farber for being his true self through his gentle and professional steps in directing the funeral procession.

How sorely missed she will be by family and friends. It is comforting to know that she is  released from the devastating grip that Alzheimers put upon her and our family. We always felt her fight to stay with us with her bright smiles and her often winking to let us know her light was present. Through all the later years she fought her battle. “Mom, I have never been more proud of anyone else in my life as I am of you!”

Memorial Services will be held Thursday, April 18 at 2:30 PM at Grasse Funeral Home in Reedsburg with Dan Farber officiating. Visitation will be held from 1:30 PM until the time of service. After the service there will be a gathering of loved ones for sandwiches and refreshments at the Grasse Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, in honor of Mary's memory, please donate to the Reedsburg  Senior Life Foundation.

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