Mary A. (Wachholz) Beesten
Mary A. (Wachholz) Beesten, 82, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2023 at Cameron Hall Memory Care in Canton, Georgia. Born in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, she raised her family first on a farm in Newton and then resided over 40 years in Kewaskum. Mary was a graduate of Lincoln High School Class of 1958. While raising her four children and maintaining a massive vegetable garden, she worked in family food service and later assumed an administrative position with the Washington County Clerk of Court’s office, supporting the Clerk’s legal and records requirements for 15 years until retirement. Mary loved learning computer systems and taking classes to advance her career and technology proficiency. She enjoyed playing the piano and the accordion and insisted on her children receiving music education. Mary was a life-long avid reader, an extraordinary cook, and exceptional seamstress. Many 4H cohorts spent afternoons with their material and patterns spread throughout every room in Mary and Frank’s farmhouse learning to sew and create outfits for competition. She enjoyed retirement with monthly lunches with friends, reading, visiting family and traveling with Frank, punctuating each day with the New York Times Crossword puzzle.
Mary is survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, Frank. She is survived by her three daughters, Cheryl (Philip) West, Pamela (Mike) Last, and Michelle (Mike) Alexander; and her eight grandchildren, Julia (James) Shealy, Gavin (Kirsten) West, Katie (Clint) Royer, Hillary (Justin) Jeter, Caleb (Britney) Last, Trevin Last, Zoraya Sotelo and Lindsey Alexander. She is further survived by her nieces and nephews, including Mary Ellen, Karen, Nancy, Anna, Debbie, Lori, Lois, Bob, Greg and their spouses; dear sister-in-law, Hiltrud (Tom) Melin; and cousins, Larry and Barbara Fickau. She was the proud great-grandmother to 12 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her son, Joseph John Beesten.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at St. Anne Catholic Church, 202 South Packer Drive, Manitowoc. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Christian Raj with burial to follow at St. Anne’s Catholic Cemetery. A luncheon for family and friends will then be held at the Harrigan Parkside Gathering Center located on the south property of the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home. Cremation has taken place at the Harrigan Parkside Crematory and Chapel. The family will greet relatives and friends at St. Anne Catholic Church on Saturday, June 17, 2023 from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crema – tory, 628 North Water Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220 is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
