Obit: Rankel, Mary E. "Betty" (1925 - 2011)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org  

Surnames: Rankel, Gleisner, Heckel, Diers, Strey, Stoiber, Lundeen

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 10/03/2011

Rankel, Mary E. "Betty" (11 FEB 1925 - 30 SEP 2011)

Mary E. "Betty" Rankel, 86, of W1322 Colby Factory Rd., Colby passed away at her residence. She met Jesus on Friday, Sept. 30, 2011. A Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Colby, with Father Keith Apfelbeck officiating. A visitation will be held Monday, Oct. 3, 2011 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford, with a rosary service at 7:30 p.m., and again from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church in Colby on Tuesday. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Colby. Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons Wayne Murphy; Adam and Ira Strey; Matt and Stanley Rankel; John Henry; Joey and Jimmy Rankel; Michael, Jason, and Justin Stoiber.

Betty was born on Feb. 11, 1925 on Shady Lane, Wood County to Henry and Mary (Gleisner) Heckel. She grew up on the family farm. She held a special place in her heart for her aunt Theresa and uncle Tony, who cared for her until she was 3, due to her mother's untimely death nine days after Betty was born. She received her education at Ebbe Country School in the town of Lincoln, Wood County. Being a young woman who enjoyed adventure, Betty went to Washington State to build ships during World War II. She also worked at the Gun Powder Plant in Baraboo. She recalled these times as being some of the most fun times of her life.

Betty was united in marriage on Sept. 2, 1950 to George W. Rankel at Saint John's Catholic Church in Marshfield. George and Betty farmed in the town of Colby from 1950 to 1984. Many wonderful stories could be told about the teamwork that these two enjoyed during their successful years on the farm. Betty had a compassionate way of caring for all her kids, calves and creatures. She was the "calf lady extraordinaire." Her greatest accomplishment was the time and love she poured into her children and grandchildren. She could cook for a crowd or have coffee for one. Betty loved to have company and even had a sign in her entry that said, "GRANDMA BETTY'S BED AND BREAKFAST, clean beds, always room for one more, cookies and candy, best hugs and kisses, greatest MOM!!" She loved polka music, gardening, sewing, and traveling with her special friend Rose. Mom always had a great sense of humor and never forgot what it was like to be young. She will be greatly missed by all of the Rankel family, numerous nieces, nephews and friends, and will live on in our hearts.

Betty was a member of Saint Mary's Catholic Church for 61 years and the Christian Mothers, where she enjoyed working with the ladies.

She is survived by her brother Alvin (Ruby) Heckel of Marshfield; six children, Jean (Jim) Diers of Stratford, Paulette (Harry) Strey of Loyal, Vern (Karen) Rankel of Pewaukee, James (Rosane) Rankel of Colby, Diane (Richard) Stoiber of Glidden, Gary Rankel; and special friend Sue of Minneapolis; 18 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and nephew, Jerry Lundeen of Willard.

She is preceded in death by her husband, of 42 years, whom she dearly missed, George; son Stanley; parents; brothers, Ed and Carl Heckel; sisters, Marion Breseman, Alma Markowski, and Mildred Lundeen.

The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Colby is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.