Mary Tucek

Mary Joan Tucek, loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend left this world peacefully on July 29, 2021, at age 83 at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau.

She was born to Ethel Helen (Peterson) and Wilfred John Chapiewsky on March 22, 1938. Mary loved to share tales of her childhood growing up with her much-beloved sister Nancy in Bangor, WI. Her family moved to Wausau, WI during her senior year in high school and she graduated from Wausau East High School. After high school, she worked as a telephone switchboard operator, a job that she enjoyed and had great memories of.

After enrolling in the University of Wisconsin Marathon Center Mary met her husband, Frank Tucek Jr. They were married on January 24, 1959. Together they had five children. She was completely devoted to her family and she loved raising her children. Nothing gave her more joy than seeing her family find their own happiness.

Mary was a beautiful writer of poetry and prose and spent her days after her children were grown reading voraciously. She loved flowers and tended lovely gardens at her home. She enjoyed feeding and watching the birds and squirrels in her backyard. She was in turn very serious and wildly funny. She always declined to join in family games such as trivia challenges but loved to shout out answers regardless of whose turn it was.

Mary’s faith was strong. She was a long-time member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Wausau. Over the course of many years, she wrote columns titled, “Mary’s Message” for the Church’s newsletter, “The Pilgrim’s Progress.” She enjoyed the creative outlet and the ability to share her faith and offer thoughtful uplifting messages to others. Over the years she spent some time working for the church as the church secretary. She also cherished the Thursday mornings spent folding bulletins with her sister Nancy and the other church members, including Fred, the office manager.

Mary loved well and was well-loved. She will be greatly missed.

Mary is survived by her husband Frank Tucek Jr., four of her children - Ann (Cary) Bush, John Tucek, Molly (Eric) Gunderson, and Thomas Tucek; six grandchildren - Joshua Tucek, Daniel Tucek, Amanda Tucek, Katie (Braydan) Coffing, Matthew Bush, and Eric Bush; and a beloved great-granddaughter, Nora Coffing. She is also survived by her sister and lifelong friend Nancy (James) Bedessem.

She was preceded in death by her son, Peter Tucek, as well as many close friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 pm on Friday, August 6, 2021, at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 709 Weston Ave, Wausau. Eugene Viegut will officiate. Visitation will take place from 12:30 pm until the time of services at the church. Burial will take place at Pine Grove Cemetery. Family and friends are asked to go to www.brainardfuneral.com to leave words of remembrance and online condolences.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Pilgrim Lutheran Church.