Mary Biese

Biese, Mary (nee Coonen)

Mary Biese, of Kaukauna, age 96 years, died peacefully on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at the St. Paul Home. Mary was born on April 23, 1910 in Jump River, Wisconsin to the late Arnold and Anna (DeBruin) Coonen. Her father died when she was only six months old. When her mother Anna married John DeCoster the family moved back to Kaukauna. On May 19, 1931 Mary married Aloysius Biese at St. Mary Church where she continued to be a lifelong and very active member of the parish. Together they farmed and raised a family. Mary loved to sew, peel potatoes, made excellent pie crust and peeled apples for many an apple pie. She was very proud of all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She taught many of them to sew, the girls learned to braid hair and many a grandchild learned the game of sheepshead and checkers from her. Mary volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul and St. Paul Home. In 2003, Mary received the life-time achievement award from the service organizations of Kaukauna.

Mary is survived by her nine children: Marvin (Pat) Biese of Wrightstown, Mark (Janet) Biese of Townsend, Marie (Charlie) Wall of Greenleaf, Gerald (Mary Beth) Biese of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Carol (Mike) Hagens of Darboy, Joan Hagens of Laona, Jim (Bonnie) Biese of Greenleaf, Helen (Stan) Dercks of Kaukauna, Ann (Roger) Huss of Kaukauna; 39 grandchildren, 91 great grandchildren; and a sister: Delia (nee Decoster) Schumacher-Hauser of Appleton. She is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and step father; her husband: Aloysius; a son: Arnold; a daughter: Jane Brautigan; a granddaughter: Mary Biese; great grandchildren: Gavin Hug and Rose Schroedl-Dercks, a son-in-law: Ralph Hagens; brothers: Ben (Rose) Coonen, George (Ruth) Coonen, Henry “Hank” (Ceil) Coonen, Albert (Agnes) DeCoster and Martin (Hattie) DeCoster; brothers-in-law: Bill Schumacher and Carl Hauser and her husband’s family: Lena (Frank) Van Camp, Mary (Pete) Onkels, Pete (Ella) Biese, Frank (Clara) Biese, Elizabeth Biese and Henry (Catherine) Biese.

The funeral liturgy for Mary will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 309 Desnoyer Street, Kaukauna with Fr. Jack Mullarkey officiating. Burial will take place at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. The rosary will be said at 8:00 pm. Friends may also call at the church on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until the time of mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Kaukauna Catholic School System Endowment Fund appreciated. The family wishes to express a special thank you to the staff at St. Paul Home for their excellent care and compassion of Mary.

FARGO FUNERAL HOME
400 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Kaukauna, WI 54130
(920)766-6200