Obit: Sigmund, Mary Isabel (1915 - 2009)

Contact:: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Sigmund, Bodewin, Gengler, Thums, Denzine, Davison, Goulet, Mahner, Neder, Brown, Zeman, Willger, Stefancin 
 

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) November 4, 2009 
 

Sigmund, Mary Isabel (1 November 1015 - 28 October 2009)  
 

Mary Isabel Sigmund, age 93, of Medford, died on Wednesday, October 28, 2009, at the Memorial Nursing and Rehab Center, Medford, where she resided for the past two years.  She was under the care of Hope Hospice. 
 

Visitation was held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 1 at the Hemer Funeral Home in Medford, with a rosary service at 7:00 P.M., and also from 9:00-10:45 a.m. on Monday, November 2, also at  the Hemer Funeral Home.  Funeral services were held on Monday, November 2, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medford, with Father Gerard Willger and Deacon Joseph Stefancin officiating.  Burial followed in Molitor Catholic Cemetery, Town of Molitor. 
 

Pallbearers were Mary’s grandsons: Eric Sigmund, Rodney Mahner, Ian Davison, Stewart Sigmund, Jerome Thums, Quintin Denzine, Tony Goulet and Luke Sigmund.  
 

Mary was born on November 1, 1915, in Medford to Anton J. and Catharine M. (Bodewin) Gengler. She attended grade school in Rice Lake, WI and at Holy Rosary in Medford, and graduated from Medford High School. She attended college in Milwaukee and received her teaching certificate from Taylor County Normal School.  On March 30, 1940, she married Walter Irvin Sigmund, who preceded her in death on May 13, 1973. 
 

Before marrying Walter, Mary began her teaching career as a cadet teacher in Whittlesey, then in Rib Lake (Greenwood) where she had, at one time 51 students in all 8 grades. She then taught, at various times, at the Molitor, Pinetree and Perkinstown schools, and lastly at the Jump River School. 
 

After marriage, she and Walter moved to a farm west of Medford on County Road M, and two years later, to another farm in the town of Molitor where they lived and worked together until October of 1969, when they moved to Quesnell, British Columbia in Canada.  Isabel and Walt moved back to the Town of Molitor farm in 1971, where Mr. Sigmund died in May of 1973.  After Walt’s passing, Isabel went to work as a housekeeper at Holy Rosary Rectory until her retirement.  She played basketball in high school and college, also enjoying cross country skiing and swimming. She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford.  
 

Isabel is survived by nine children: Richard (Janet) Sigmund, Jean (Frank) Thums, and Joyce (Gene) Denzine, all of Medford, Nancy Davison of Madison, WI, Neal Sigmund of Necedah, WI, Leon (Diane) Sigmund of Calicoon, NY, Gary (Sheila) Sigmund of Schofield, WI, Constance (Lawrence) Goulet of Quesnell, BC, Canada, and Kevin (Cheryl) Sigmund of Colfax, WI; one brother, Eugene Gengler of West Bend, WI; 38 grandchildren; over 100 great-grandchildren; and at least three great-great-grandchildren. 
 

Preceding her in death were her husband, Walter; her parents; a daughter, Kathleen Mahner in 1999; a grandson, Isaac Sigmund in 1990; a great-grandson, Gunner Denzine in 1998; three sisters: Catherine Neder-Brown, Theresa Zeman, and Dolores Sigmund; and two brothers: Anthony and Matthew Gengler.   
 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Isabel’s name to Holy Rosary Catholic School, 215 S. Washington Street, Medford, WI 54451.  Online condolences can be made at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.