Mary Lucille (Lokemoen) Haines, age 84, died Friday, January 6, 2023, at North Haven Assisted Living in Stevens Point. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, January 16, 2023, at Ritchay Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids. A prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, January 16, 2023, at the funeral home by Fr. Joe Bathke. Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Wisconsin Rapids officiated by Fr. Janusz Kowalski and Fr. David Bruener. Visitation will also be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Burial will take place at a later date in Merrill, WI.
Mary was born November 27, 1938, in Merrill, WI to the late Theodore and Lucille (Fermanich) Lokemoen. She married Philip “Pat” Haines on August 8, 1964, in Merrill. Mary attended The Lincoln County Teachers College in Merrill and UW-Eau Claire. She was an Elementary School teacher at St. Robert’s in Merrill, Waukesha, WI and Port Edwards Ed Heuer Elementary School until her retirement in 1998. Mary loved teaching and found she most enjoyed fourth grade where she spent the majority of her career. She especially loved teaching her students about Wisconsin History. She brought Wisconsin to the classroom and taught her students the process of making maple syrup, visited local cranberry marshes, birding, Wisconsin authors, and read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie. Mary also accompanied her husband Pat escorting his French students to France for study, family stays and touring. Mary was a member of the Wisconsin Education Association, National Education Association, Port Edwards Retirees, and Wisconsin Rapids Retired Educators Association. Mary was a very social person and was very engaged in the community. Whether she was singing with the “Lemon Sisters”, sewing with “Stitch & Chatter”, reviewing books with the “Book Worms”, delivering Meals on Wheels, Alexander House Docent, working the St. Lawrence Fish Fry, delivering communion to those in need, serving as an officer on the St. Lawrence Parish Council of Catholic Women, or playing cards, Mary was sure to bring a smile and a good chat. Family was Mary’s highest priority. She was a loving wife who cared for Pat through Alzheimer’s, supportive mother, sister and proud grandmother. She never missed a concert, movie, or sporting event any of them were involved in. She was always willing to bake treats for concession stands, create costumes and drive around the state to witness athletic or theatrical performances. Mary also enjoyed flower gardening, baking, reading, decorating for Christmas, traveling, crossword puzzles, and Facebooking.
Mary is survived by; daughter Beth (James) Molski and grandsons Nicholas (Shannon), and Samuel (Skyler Peterson) of Stevens Point, WI; Patrick (Kristin) of Green Bay, WI. Son Ted (Ilona Muschenetz) of Los Osos, CA, and granddaughter McKenzie Haines of Burbank, CA; Son Steven of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Mary is further survived by her brother John (Lue) Lokemoen, brothers-in-law Ken, Jerry, and Paul Haines; and sisters-in-law Joyce (Ron) Miles, Joan (Don) Maranville, Karen (Larry) Garnett, and Mary. In addition, Mary is survived by 39 nephews and nieces, and over 80 great-nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband Pat in 2018; parents Theodore and Lucille (Fermanich) Lokemoen; sister Kris Lokemoen; brothers-in-law John, Robert (Lois), and Dann (Pat) Haines; sisters-in-law Catherine Taylor, and Mary (Bill) Lahner.
The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to the staff at Marshfield Clinic, Hospital and Cancer Center and Compassus Home Health for their loving care of Mary, and to her numerous friends and family members who supported her and provided strength over the last several months. Memorials may be designated to the Port Edwards Education Foundation of Port Edwards, WI, or The Kids From Wisconsin performing organization of Milwaukee, WI. https://www.kidsfromwi.org/