Obit: Kodl, Mary Ann “Busia” (1921 - 2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Kodl, Kolak, Czech, Looker, Lew, Luzinski, Kaduce, Abramczak, Sikorski, Wiese, Kalepp, Drost, Biela, Janisek, Gintner, Natzke, Kowalski

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 12/23/2015

Kodl, Mary Ann “Busia” (29 November 1921 - 19 December 2015)

Mary Ann Kodl (“Busia”) passed away on Saturday, December 19, 2015, at Miller Alternative Care in Thorp, Wisconsin, surrounded by her children, their families, and her new family, the staff of Miller Alternative, where she made her home the past three years.

Mary was born in Gilman, Wisconsin the only child of Joseph and Pauline (Kolak) Czech on November 29, 1921. The family later moved to Chicago, returning to this area when Mary was seven to farm in the Township of Thorp. Mary met her future husband, Albert Kodl, at Wild Cherry Cheese Factory, where she worked for the Natzke family and in their store, and where Albert was employed as a milk hauler and cheesemaker. They were married at St. Hedwig’s Church, Thorp, Wisconsin, on June 27, 1942. After living with her parents, in 1945 Albert and Mary purchased the farm across the road, where they raised eight children and farmed together until Albert’s death in 1983.

Shortly afterward, Mary moved into her ‘dream home’ across from the Thorp Swimming Pool where she enjoyed visits from her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and their friends. A common sight at her house in the summer, besides the many lawn ornaments, which gave her so much pleasure, was the collection of wet bathing suits and towels decorating her front porch.

After moving to town, Mary traveled regularly with tour groups, usually in the company of her sisters-in-aw and brother-in-law, visiting numerous sites across the US, as well as traveling to American Legion Auxiliary conventions.

She enjoyed embroidering and crocheting, so nearly all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are the lucky recipients of hand stitched pillowcases or crocheted Afghans, which will be treasured as family heirlooms. Mary also crocheted countless lap robes for the veterans at King and gifted Afghans to many Thorp area veterans.

Mary was a member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Church, the Parish Council of Catholic Women, and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Mary is survived by her children: Richard (Lynn) Kodl, Raymond (Nancy) Kodl, Frank (Jane) Kodl, all of Thorp, Victoria (Dennis) Looker of Withee, Mary Ann (Mark) Lew, Robert (Arlene) Kodl, Kenneth (Jeanette) Kodl, and daughter-in-law, Virginia Kodl, also of Thorp, 24 grandchildren: Julie Kodl, Ron (Amy) Kodl, Christopher (Tara) Kodl, Peggy (Mike) Luzinski, Kurt (Kristine Kaduce) Kodl, Dustin Kodl, David (Dana) Kodl, Melissa (Steve) Abramczak, Shawn (Jenny) Kodl, Ryan (DeAnna Sikorski) Kodl, Ashley (David Wiese) Kodl, Kevin (Lena) Looker, Jacob Looker, Brian (Megan) Lew, Allen (Rita) Lew, Susan (Doug) Kalepp, Sally (Kenny) Drost, Sherry Lew, Jennifer (Greg Biela) Lew-Biela, Dana Kodl, Bobby (Michelle) Kodl, Michael Kodl, Derek Kodl, and Amy Kodl; 34 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Fern Kodl and Valeria Kodl; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Albert; her son, Ronald; her brothers-in-law: Joe, Jerry, and Emil Kodl and Frank Jasinek; and sisters-in-law: Audrey Kodl and Helen Jasinek.

Visitation will be at Cuddie Funeral Home in Thorp, 110 W. School Street, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 27, 2015, and then on Monday, December 28, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Church, 111N. Church Street from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. followed by a Christian Mass of Burial at 11:00 a.m. with Father Janusz Kowalski as celebrant. Interment will be at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Cemetery in Thorp following Mass. The pallbearers are her grandsons: Ron Kodl, Chris Kodl, David Kodl, Kevin Looker, Brian Lew, Bobby Kodl and Michael Kodl.

Mary’s family would like to thank the staff at Miller Alternative who cared for her like she was their own mother, both during her healthier years there and during her last difficult days. She could not have asked for better care; the Miller employees have been ‘angels.’ Thanks also to the Mayo Clinic Health System Hospice Team who so kindly helped Mary and her family through her final days; they, too, were a blessing. Further thanks to Father Janusz for his visits and prayers with “Busia” while at Miller, to Peter Gintner who tended to her medical needs and cheered her up at each visit, the ladies of the PCCW who take care of the funeral lunch, and the folks at Cuddie Funeral Home, who are helping the family with the arrangements. So many people have made this difficult time less so with their caring ways.