May E. McGuire

May E. McGuire, age 103, passed away on April 28, 2012 at Tivoli Nursing Home in Portage. May was born Mary Eveline Petitjean on February 3, 1909 at home in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Her parents were Felix Petitjean and Lizzie Haevers Petitjean. She is the second youngest and sole surviving child of nine children born to Felix and Lizzie.

May graduated from Green Bay East High in 1927. She worked for nine years as a bookkeeper at Hoberg's Paper Company and Hood Plumbing and Heating.
On March 2, 1935 she married the love of her life Earl William (Irish) McGuire. She met Irish when she was about 12 years old and dated him on and off through high school until 1935. Irish attended Marquette University on a football scholarship. The story is that she lent him $300 to go to the University. In 1935 she told him to pay up or marry her. He chose to marry her. During most of their 41-year marriage they lived in Appleton, Wisconsin. Irish passed away in May of 1976. May resided in her home in Appleton until August 2008 when she moved to Devine Savior.

Irish and May had four children. Nancy McGuire and her husband John Geib reside on Pine Island Florida. Kay McGuire resides in Pardeeville with her cats Frick and Frack. Their son Pat McGuire resides with his wife Pat Van de Hei in Plymouth, WI. Their daughter Mary Gunderson resides with her husband Bruce in Talkeetna, Alaska. May's eight grandchildren are Jay Verrier, Kerry Ham, Shawn Verrier, Ryan Verrier, Marne Gunderson, Chris Gunderson, Colin McGuire, and Devin McGuire. Her ten great grandchildren are Bailey Mischenko, Kira Ham; Sam, Clare, and Teagon Verrier; Kiana, Kaden, and Riley Gunderson; and Brice and Nolan Verrier.
May and Irish lived in Green Bay when the Green Bay Packers were in their infancy. May remembers going to games where they would pass a hat to get money to buy a new uniform for the team. She also recollects Irish taking oldest daughter Nancy to Packer games at City Stadium amd as half time approached May and Kay would walk to stadium where they would switch kids and Kay would see the second half.

May received an award for her voting record in Appleton. From 1936 to 2001 when she received the award she voted in every election. She enjoys keeping up on her politics and loves to share her opinion with anyone who would listen. May enjoyed traveling. Her last trip to Florida was for the winter of 2007/2008. She spent December, January, February in Destin, FL and March, April, on Pine Island Florida. Traveling with or to visit her children she has been to Idaho, California, Alaska, Quebec, Canada, and to various sites in Wisconsin. May enjoys telling stories about her youth and adult life and displays a good sense of humor. She could make the best cookies and knitted warm mittens and hats for her relatives and friends.

A private memorial service will be held. Inurnment will take place at Allouez Catholic Cemetery, Green Bay.