Mary Ruth Grace Hafemann, 97, of Shawano, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016, at her home. Mary was born in Shawano on April 27, 1919, the daughter of the late Ferdinand and Emma (Echtner) Jensen. She was a graduate of Shawano High School where she participated in band and shot-put. On June 3, 1944, she married Karl E. Hafemann. He preceded her in death on Jan. 5, 1997. Mary was employed at the Shawano Community Hospital for many years prior to having children. She was a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano and a tenor in the church choir for many years. When her children were young, she participated in the Lincoln School PTA. Throughout her life, her hobbies included fishing, flower and vegetable gardening, sewing, cooking, canning, making preserves, baking, ice skating, bowling, golfing, genealogy, bird watching, and nature conservation. She was a member of the Shawano Tree Committee, the Shawano Conservation Association and the Sweet Adelines, among others.
Mary is survived by three daughters, Katherine (Gary) Raasch, of Silva, Missouri, Susan (Michael) Yankowski, of Sayville, New York, and Peg Brennan, of Shawano; her granddaughter, Melissa Schreiber, of Shawano; two great-grandsons and one great-great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, three sisters and a grandson, Tim.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 24, 2016, at Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano with Dick Menning officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorials in Mary’s name may be given to the Navarino Nature Center.
Mary’s family wishes to extend a special thank you to Pam Diemel and the entire cast of caregivers who provided superb care for Mary throughout the past years, and to ThedaCare Hospice for the services, care and knowledge they provided.