Mary Stone

Mary E. (Artus) Stone passed away October 11, 2022, at Athenian Living in Athens, WI. Mary was born on January 31, 1918, to Amanda (Krahn) and Frank Artus in the Town of Hamburg.  The doctor traveled by horse and buggy from Marathon City to deliver Mary, having to stay overnight at the family home due to a severe blizzard.  While growing up, the family moved from Hamburg to Rib Falls and then to Wausau.  The Artus’s owned and operated a small hotel in the area of Stewart Avenue in Wausau and also farmed east of Wausau.

Mary attended Lincoln Grade School starting in 4th grade.  She was very proud to be able to then attend Wausau High School.  She was the only one in her family to attend, even when it meant hitchhiking with the milkman from the farm in the country to get to school each day.  She went on to attend the Marathon County Normal School and completed a teaching degree at UW Stevens Point. Mary took pride in her achievements. She taught in one room schoolhouses in Gad and Stratford.  One of her favorite things to do with her students was sledding, no matter the temperature.

She moved to Chicago in 1943 where she worked a variety of office jobs.  She also operated a ballroom dance studio where she was a ballroom dance instructor and competed in dance competitions. Dance always took precedence over her office jobs. Chicago is where she would meet her future husband Merlin “Stoney” Stone.  They were married April 16, 1955. Chicago wasn’t the beautiful city of lights for Mary and Merlin. One horrible night the couple lost almost everything in an apartment fire.  They remained living in Chicago until 1978 when they retired to Wausau to be closer to family. Ten years later, “Stoney”, the love of Mary’s life, passed away.

She lived in her own home with her beloved dogs until selling the house at age 95. She then remained in excellent health, living independently at Primrose Retirement Community in Wausau until age 104. While living there, she kept busy by helping to serve snacks, handing out newsletters, and preparing jigsaw puzzles for others to put together. One of her favorite times was Primrose’s happy hour on Thursdays. Most recently Mary moved to Athenian Living Assisted Living in Athens.

She is survived by her nephews-in-law Ken Klug and Patrick Plunkett; great nieces Lisa (Greg) Nowicki of Athens, Sara (Mike) Agamaite of Oconomowoc; great nephews Karl Kluetz of Seattle, WA, Erik (Estrietta) Kluetz of Fort Worth, TX; and their children. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stoney; sisters, Mildred Kirkpatrick and Erna Kluetz; nieces, Judy Klug and Mary Plunkett, and nephew Michael Kluetz.

Funeral services will be held Monday, October 17, 2022, at 11:00 am at Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce Street, Wausau with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery.

Our family wishes to thank the staff at Athenian Living for their loving care and compassion.