Mary A. Gillitzer
Mary A. Gillitzer, 92, of Prairie du Chien, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 25, surrounded by her family.
She was born Dec. 31, 1924, in Wauzeka, daughter of John and Kathryn (McCarthy) Lathrop. She married Eugene Gillitzer on Sept. 7, 1946, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wauzeka. Together they raised eight children. Mary’s greatest joys in life were caring for and spending time with her family and friends.
Eugene and Mary farmed in the Seneca area where they had a dairy farm. Mary was a hardworking partner in the farm operation, helping to care for livestock, raising a garden and canning or freezing the abundant produce. After selling the farm, Mary worked at Advance Transformer, retiring in 1989. Mary had a special devotion to her faith and praying the rosary.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children: Rita Gillitzer-Doskocil, of Madison, Sharon (Joe) Atkins, of Prairie du Chien, Cecilia (Bill) Doskocil, of La Crosse, Arnold, of Seneca, Clement, of Dodgeville, Gary (Patty), of Boscobel, Veronica (Steve) Roberts, of Marshfield, and Richard (Lynn), of Evansville; 21 grandchildren Michael, Angela, Carole Ann, Tara, Eric, Lisa, Jeffery, Rhonda, Shelly, Scott, Brian, Kristin, Sarah, Danny, Eric, Ian, Gregory, Bradley, Phillip, Marilyn and Elizabeth; two step-grandchildren Becky and Jacob; 19 great grandchildren Claire, Carter, Alex, Jordan, Jada, Mya, Hunter, Justin, Drew, Ellie, Wesley, Jackson, Calvin, Rosemary, Eli, Melissa, Zach, Beau and Scarletta; one step-great-grandchild Ashton, brothers-in-law John (Norma) Gillitzer, of Prairie du Chien, Roger (Janice) Gillitzer, of Janesville, Richard McGrath, of Madison, and Thomas Check, of Janesville; sister-in-law Marjean Kern, of Kiel; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Eugene; her parents; her siblings Norma Sprosty, John, Lawrence, James and Joseph Lathrop; two grandsons, Isaac and Eli Gillitzer; a great-grandson Alex Roberts; along with daughters-in-law Laura Gillitzer and Mary Gillitzer.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, Oct. 30, at 11 a.m., at St. Gabriel’s Church of the Holy Family Parish in Prairie du Chien, Rev. James Weighner officiating, with burial in St. Patrick’s Church Cemetery in Seneca. Friends may call at St. Gabriel’s Church on Monday, Oct. 30, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. The Garrity Funeral Home of Prairie du Chien is assisting the family.
