Mary Kucirek

Mary Kay Gritzmacher Kucirek, 83, passed to eternal life on February 2, 2018. She was born in Green Bay, WI and was adopted by her loving parents, Franklin and Marge Gritzmacher of Wausau. She attended St. James Grade School and Wausau Jr. High School, and graduated from Wausau Sr. High School in 1952. Mary Kay attended Stephens College in Columbia, MO, where she sang in the choir and belonged to Zeta Phi Delta sorority, acting as president her senior year. She worked for Braniff Airlines at Midway Airport in Chicago after college, where she took care of many celebrities like Bob Hope, Harry Truman, and Marilyn Monroe. She married her high school sweetheart, Joe, on August 18, 1956 at St. James Catholic Church, after which he was commissioned as staff judge advocate in the Air Force. They were stationed in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. They returned to Wausau to raise their family. Mary Kay was active at St. James (Resurrection) Parish, serving as an Extraordinary Eucharistic minister, catechist, organizer of the Jamestown Bazaar fundraiser for many years, and Girl Scout and Cub Scout troop leader. She was a member of Martha's Helpers who cleaned the church, and volunteered in the parish Soup Kitchen for many years. She was a member of the parish Catholic Women's Club and served as President. She was also active in the deanery and diocesan Catholic Women's Clubs, and attended several national conventions. She was a library aide at St. James Grade School. Mary Kay was active in the Birch Trails Girl Scout Council, including organizing council wide trips for the scouts. She also volunteered at the YWCA and served as President. She was a volunteer for many years at the Aspirus Hospital gift shop. Mary Kay was also active in the Jaycettes, serving one year as President. Mary Kay enjoyed music, playing bridge with her bridge club (now the Lunch Bunch), reading, traveling, and backing the Packers, Brewers, and Badgers. She was a big fan of Mike Leckrone and the UW Marching Band. She was skilled at many crafts such as crochet, needlepoint, cross stitch, Ukrainian egg decorating, decoupage, quilling, knitting, and making various types of dolls. She is survived by her children Peg (Randy), Joe (Lori), John (Tammy), Virginia (Tom), and Mary (Paul); grandchildren Noelle, Jenny, Samantha, Kory, Andrew, Jenna, and Timothy; step grandchildren Jessica and Tristin; great grandchildren Kaylie, Madisyn, Ella, Levi, Hunter, Aslyn, Violet, and Maddie; brother-in-law Bob (Angie); sister-in-law Jeannie, nephew Scott and niece Krystyna. She is further survived by her birth family siblings Norbert (Joyce), Robert (Theresa), John (Louise), Louis (Joanne), Mary, and Dorothy (Clarence). Mary Kay was preceded in death by her parents, beloved Uncle Elmer, brother-in-law Donald, birth family siblings William and Marge, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Resurrection Catholic Parish, Wausau, with burial to follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Fr. Robert Streveler will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2018 at Brainard Funeral Home, 522 Adams Street, Wausau, and again from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Parish Rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, Mary Kay asked that donations be given to the Marathon County Humane Society.