Mary Ann Zilz
March 24, 1941 – June 29, 2024
Mary Ann Zilz, 83, of Iola, Wisconsin, went to her heavenly home on June 29, 2024.
She was born on March 24, 1941, in Mondovi, Wisconsin, to the late Harlan and Stella (Severson) Haunschild.
Mary Ann married David Zilz on April 16, 1966, in Greenwood, Wisconsin.
Mary Ann was a remarkable wife, mother, daughter, aunt, sister, sister-in-law, and friend. She enjoyed organizing activities that brought people together. Whether it was a family Christmas, card games with friends, camping trips with family, or casino trips with her mother, she brought smiles to all.
Mary Ann was dedicated to her churches, having never missed a Sunday, at both churches to which she was a member. She was actively involved in both Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and St. Peters’ Lutheran Church. Over the years she served on a church council, an evangelism committee, and finance committees and had the responsibility of church treasurer.
Upon graduating from nursing school at UW-Eau Claire, she worked at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics from March 8, 1964, until she retired on June 28, 1996, or as her daughter would say, “32 years, 1 month and 20 days!
After working as a surgical head nurse, she worked as an Infection Control Nurse. She was known for having a reputation as being a “bit persistent.” As part of her responsibilities as an infection control nurse, Mary Ann helped implement a variety of protocols, programs, and campaigns to improve medical care in the hospital and the community. One example is a Mr. Yuk campaign to teach parents the importance of labeling and storing medicine and other hazardous materials to protect children from being poisoned.
Her impact on pharmacy residents at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and School of Pharmacy is summarized by a couple of messages they wrote: “Mary Ann will be remembered as an upbeat and positive person who supported her family. Her support of Dave was a blessing. It enabled him to be all he can be for each of us and our profession. She has been and always will be loved by all.” Another wrote, “When we were residents (hard to believe that was over 50 years ago), Mary Ann was a substitute parent for many of us as we participated in the Residency and learned how to deal with the transitions from being college students to young adults. We always looked forward to gathering at your home and the advice given to each of us along our paths to being young pharmacy leaders.”
After retiring in rural Iola, she hosted and housed weekend gatherings for literally hundreds of former students who stayed In Dave’s and her home.
Mary Ann lived a full and active home and family life as well, sharing in many hobbies and activities with friends and family. She traveled extensively with Dave on vacations and on his many work-related trips with the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists and other pharmacy associations. Work-related trips with her husband she particularly enjoyed were to Las Vegas, Nevada and San Francisco, California, and others where she would attend fancy dinner parties, black-tie affairs. She was active in a “UW Faculty Foreign Foods” group which met monthly to prepare and enjoy tasting foods from around the world. She belonged to bridge clubs and sheepshead clubs over the years during which she enjoyed being a hostess, having the opportunity to show off her culinary skills.
Dave’s summary: “For over a half a century I was truly blessed to have lived with a beautiful, vivacious, always pleasant, stoic, patient but persistent and get-it-done woman.”
The family would especially like to thank the St. Peter’s Lay Ministry team, the staff at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, and the staff at Oakwood Hospice Care who took such special care of Mary Ann during her stays. We also do not have the words of appreciation for Tina Albers and Jeanne Christensen. They are truly gifts from God.
She is survived by her husband David; daughter Kristin Lucas; two grandchildren Rebecca and Alyssa Lucas; sister Marilyn (Tom) Maruca; brothers Dale (Luann) Haunschild and John (Sue) Haunschild; sister-in-law Donna Hooker; along with nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father Harlan Haunschild, mother Stella Haunschild, and son-in-law Gary Lucas.
The Funeral Service for Mary Ann will be held on Saturday, July 6, at 1 p.m., at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Big Falls, Wisconsin, with Revs. David Eisele and Dale Rambo, presiding. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Interment will be at the Big Falls Cemetery.
In place of flowers, memorial donations can be made in memory of Mary Ann Zilz to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, N10685 Peterson Road, Marion, WI 54950.