Mary Norton

Mary Ellen Kaskavitch was born March 11, 1926 in Kronenwetter to the late Steve and Isabell (Akey) Kaskavitch. At a young age she went to work as a nanny for D.C. Everest. Mary married Leonard J. Norton September 29, 1943 at First Presbyterian Church, Wausau. Over the years, Mary worked for Pied Piper Shoe Factory and a few other places, but through it all she worked hard at home taking care of her family. The couple celebrated 50 wonderful years together prior to Leonard's death in 1993.

For all of her hard work, Mary was a woman who enjoyed her free time. Throughout her life, she loved to travel visiting nearly every state in the continental US, Hawaii and Canada. In her younger years, the family would go camping and fishing together. Winters found Mary and Leonard on Big Lake Harris in their winter home in Florida spending time with family and friends. Always thinking of her grandkids, she sewed quilts for each one of them. Two very important people in her life were her 5th to 8th grade teacher, Mary Becker, who she stayed in touch with until Mrs. Becker's death and her mentor and 2nd mother, Florence Christianson. Mary E. Norton, 84, Rib Mountain, died Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services at her daughter's home.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Judy (Dale) Ritchie of Rib Mountain; son-in-law, Richard Schroeder of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Penny (Jerry) Kraft, Mark (Jacquelyn) Schroeder, Dawn (Craig) Schroyer, Peter (Jennifer) Schroeder, Michelle (Keith) Rosentreter and Lana (Matt) Malone; 12 great-grandchildren; 6 step-great-grandchildren; siblings, Laura (Thomas) Lloyd of Wausau, Alice Bremer of Wausau, Joyce (William) Balge of Mosinee, Charlene (Harold) Stillman of Wausau and Jacqueline (James) Krieg of Mosinee; brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Karen Schroeder; brothers, Wallace, Steve Jr. and Leonard; and sisters, Delores, Katherine and Virgene.

Funeral services will be 7:00 PM Sunday, October 17, 2010 at Helke Funeral Home, Wausau. Reverend Joy Nelson-Jeffers will be officiating. Visitation will begin at 4:00 PM on Sunday and last until the time of the funeral. A private entombment will take place at Restlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Judy and the rest of Mary's family would like to extend a word of thanks to doctors, nurses and staff of Aspirus Wausau Hospital Palliative Care Unit and Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services for their loving care. A special thank you is extended to Jackie and Jim Krieg for their compassion and the joy given to Mary.