Obit: Lindow, Mary Louise (1924 – 2016)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Lindow, Hutchins, Benson, McDonald, La Fontaine, Levy, Chasteen

Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 18 May 2016

Lindow, Mary Louise (15 APR 1924 – 14 MAY 2016)

Mary Louise (Hutchins) Lindow, Chili, died peacefully at home with her family around her, May 14, 2016, one month after her 92nd birthday. Mary was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, April 15, 1924, the second child of Sydney E. Hutchins and Emma (Benson) Hutchins. Her conception was a surprise since her mother was 46 at the time and attributed her sudden fecundity to the bouncy business of Sydney's Model T Ford. Mary grew up in Edgar, Wisconsin, and attended college at Central State Teacher's College in Stevens Point.

After World War II, she met her future husband, Marlyn S. Lindow, at the marriage of her college friend, Elvira, Marlyn's sister. Mary and Marlyn married in 1947 and lived near Chili, Wisconsin, for the 56 years of their marriage. With the help of Marlyn's loving parents, William and Mary Lindow, they raised three children, Sandra, Jeffre and Susan, and were active members of the Evangelical United Brethren Church (now United Methodist). Mary taught elementary school in Marshfield, Wisconsin, until 1949 and the birth of her first child. For the next fifteen years, she worked frequently as a substitute teacher until she was able to return to teaching 4th grade full time at Lincoln Elementary in Marshfield, teaching there until her retirement.

She had an enthusiasm for Wisconsin history and geology and passed that interest along to hundreds of students during her career. Mary was proud to be the 10th great granddaughter of Pilgrim Elder, William Brewster, who wrote the Mayflower Compact in 1620, and after her retirement, she devoted considerable time to genealogical research. After Marlyn's death in 2003, Mary moved to Marshfield where she volunteered at the public library. For the last three years she has been lovingly cared for by her son Jeffre and his wife, Marcia.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Marlyn , and her sister, Jean Myers.

She is survived by her children: Sandra (Michael Levy) Lindow, Jeffre (Marcia) Lindow, and Susan Lindow; her grandchildren: Scott McDonald, Miriam (David La Fontaine) Levy, Gus (Katherine) Lindow, Ben (Liliya) Lindow, Maren Lindow, Sydni Chasteen, and Jon (Olivia) Chasteen. Ethan Lindow, her first great grandchild was born in 2015.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 21st at the Immanuel United Methodist Church in Chili, Wisconsin with lunch to follow.

Memorials in her name can be given to the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Association at http://www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp.