Mary Ann Kropp, 82, of Rib Lake, died Saturday, August 27, 2022 at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau, surrounded by her loving family. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, September 6 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Athens with Fr. Graham officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.
Mary Ann was born March 13, 1940 in Athens to Edwin and Anna (Augustine) Plisch. She attended Athens schools up until her junior year of high school, then graduated from Merrill High School in 1958, after the family relocated. She continued to stay in contact with many of her high school friends over the years and enjoyed attending her reunions. On September 17, 1960, she married Rodney Kropp at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Athens. They resided in Milwaukee for many years, where Mary Ann worked for Harley-Davidson. In 1971, they moved to the Rib Lake area where she worked for Tombstone Pizza, then Weinbrenner Shoes out of Merrill, then was a property lister for Taylor County. Somehow between working, raising her family and helping her husband on their farm, she also went back to school at North Central Tech and earned her degree in accounting. She then ran for Taylor County Treasurer and served for 12 years, until her retirement in 2006. Mary Ann enjoyed cheering on the Packers and the Brewers, crocheting, reading, and spoiling her grandchildren and her dog. She and Rodney loved to ballroom dance…they were amazing to watch as Mary Ann seemed to glide across the dance floor. Mary Ann enjoyed traveling and went on many wonderful trips with her good friend, Carol. She would also follow her granddaughter, Jackie around the country to support her in her curling competitions, including Olympic tryouts. Her greatest treasure was her family and time spent with them was truly cherished.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 62 years, Rodney of Rib Lake; two daughters, Karen (Jeff) Mueller of Medford, Laurie (Dave) Lavin of Stetsonville; siblings, Clarence Plisch, Clifton (Kathy) Plisch, all of Athens; sister-in-law, Lucy Plisch of Athens; stepsiblings, Sally (Matt) Greenblatt of Delavan, LeRoy “Sonny” Becker of California; stepsister-in-law, Judy Becker of Athens; grandchildren, Dan Lavin of Medford, Jaclyn (Ryan) Lemke of Medford, Megan (Zach Mitchell) Mueller of Ingalls, MI, Lauren (Corey) Paczkowski of Chippewa Falls; grandson-in-law, Simon Buechel of Stetsonville; great-grandchildren, Morgan and Jordan Lavin, Marshall and Brooke Buechel, Bella and Luke Lemke, Jerry Mueller-Roiger, Trytan and Sky Paczkowski, and one on the way; and her beloved and very spoiled, dog Zoey. She was preceded in death by her father, Edwin Plisch; mother, Anna Plisch-Becker; stepfather, LeRoy Becker; brother, Wayne Plisch; sister-in-law, Judy Plisch; stepsiblings and their spouses, Donna (Jack) Smith, Frank (Arlene) Becker, Earl Becker, Helen Ives, Mary Ellen Wright; and her granddaughter, Nicole Buechel.
Memorials in Mary Ann’s honor may go to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church or to Taylor County Moving For a Cure, a cancer fundraising organization. Hemer-Pickerign Funeral & Cremation Services of Medford and Rib Lake is serving the family. Online condolences can be left at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.