Mary Martha Nelson of Wisconsin Rapids and recently of Whitewater, WI passed away on Sunday, December 9, 2018 surrounded by the love of her children.

Mary was born on December 28, 1937 in Beaver Dam, WI to Martha and Harry Grimm.  Her family moved to Stevens Point, WI where she attended St. Stevens then St Maria Academy and worked for Sentry Insurance briefly after high school.

Mary married Leonard R Nelson on August 24, 1957 in Stevens Point.  They raised their family in Wisconsin Rapids where Mary was involved with school activities for her children at St Mary’s, a golf league and a bowling league as well as taught piano.

Mary had six children: Mark (Lori) Wisconsin Rapids, Cheryl (Hamid) Milwaukee, John (Rae Ann) Silver Spring, MD, James (Marie) Fort Atkinson, Roberta, Michael (Debbie) Newark, OH.  Mary also 15 grandchildren and step-grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren and step-great grandchildren.

Mary is further survived by sisters, Joni (Joe) Radomski of Plover, Kathleen Barrett of Tucson, AZ, brother-in-law Kenneth (Joanne) Nelson of Jefferson, and sisters-in-law, Helen (Ronald) Buckholt of Wild Rose, and Sylvia (Roy) Herndon of Conway, AR.

Mary is preceded in death by her best friend and husband, Leonard, daughter Roberta, sister and brother-in-law Patricia and Harry Balog, brother-in-law Tom Barrett.

Mary loved music, gardening, sports, reading, watching wildlife on her porch, and spending time with her family.  She will be dearly missed by her family.

A visitation will be at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church (St Mary’s) at 10am on Monday, December 17th with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11am. Fr. Valentine Joseph will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Her family would like to thank the kind, caring and compassionate people at Hearthstone Memory Care in Whitewater and Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center in Johnson Creek for the great work they did in caring for Mary.  Donations to Hearthstone or Rainbow Hospice in lieu of flowers are appreciated.