Mary Ellen Dudek
Mary E. Dudek, age 85, of Redgranite, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at Michalene’s in Ripon.
Mary was born November 12, 1929 near Kamiah, Idaho, the daughter of Julius and Martha (Wegner) Willis. In 1936, Mary and her family moved to Weippe, ID. She graduated from Weippe High School in 1948 and took a job as a secretary at the Hutchins Mill. She married Joseph T. Dudek Sr. on June 18, 1949 in Lewiston, ID. They lived in Weippe until moving to Redgranite, WI in 1958 to operate Joe’s family farm.
Mary ran the dairy farm with her husband Joe until 1976 when they switched to raising livestock. Mary and Joe raised four children. When not busy with the farm and kids, Mary enjoyed feeding the birds, crocheting, and growing flower and vegetable gardens. She grew thousands of African violets and crocheted many afghans, which she would sell at flea markets and craft fairs. She met and made many friends at those events. Her vegetable gardens were always large and she shared the produce freely with family, neighbors and friends.
Hummingbirds flocked to Mary’s flower garden every summer, and she made her own hummingbird food and refilled the feeders several times each day. When her husband Joe passed away after 51 years of marriage, Mary concentrated more on her hummingbirds and flower garden. Her whole front yard became a garden full of bright and beautiful colors. During the winter months she would scan flower catalogs for new treasures to plant the following spring. She passed her love of simple and beautiful things -- birds, gardening, flowers and crafts -- down to all of us.
Mary is survived by her four children, Joseph (friend Barb Passerelli) Dudek Jr., Frances (Paul) Frommherz, Michael (Catherine) Dudek and Annie (Joshua) Downs; 11 grandchildren, Joseph (Jenny) Dudek III, Johnathan Dudek, Jennifer Dudek, Jeffery (Denise) Dudek, Heather (Jon) Hartling, Sarah Frommherz, Melissa (Jeff) Wojciuk, Brian Dudek, David (Sarah) Dudek, Julie (Jonas) Trochinski and Joshua Neisius; 16 great-grandchildren, Kolton Dudek, Kaylee Dudek, jading Dudek, Riley Dudek, Hayden Hopp, Nahdya Barron, Madisen Dudek, Andrew Franklin, Trever Dudek, Claudia Schabo, Billy Schabo, Marshall Wojciuk, Audrina Dudek, Evan Dudek, Konnar Trochinski and Elliana Trochinski; nieces, mephews, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph; and brothers and sisters, Leona, Irvie (Mae), and Clarence (Mary) Willis, Viola (Burton) Snyder, Loraine Willis known as Deanie, Jennie (Woody) Hunter, Frank (Pauline) and Walt (Joyce) Willis and “the Willis Twins”.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Barbola Funeral Chapel in Berlin. Interment will be in St. Mark Cemetery in Redgranite. Friends and relatives may call on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Online condolences may be sent to the family at barbolafc@yahoo.com.