Obit: Meredith, Mary Lou (1938 - 2019)

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

Surnames: Meredith, Carderelle, Hagie, Rueth, Nelson, Eiden, Ringstad, Krumenauer, Volbrecht, Marshall, Hughs, Seebandt, Finstad, Starks, Opelt, Eckes, Hoenisch

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/23/2019

Meredith, Mary Lou (9 March 1938 – 17 March 2019)

Mary Lou Meredith, age 81, of Neillsville, died Sunday, March 17, 2019 in the Palliative Care Unit of the Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield.

She was born March 4, 1938 to Ed and Amelia (Carderelle) Hagie in Granton and raised in Shortville until the 8th grade. Her family then moved to Neillsville, where she finished school, graduating in 1956. During the 1960’s she stayed home and raised her family. In the 1970’s she helped her brother-in-law and sister-in-law at Jenni Floral by filling in occasionally. She then wrote for the Clark County Press, where she wrote a column called “This, That & T’other”. In the 1980’s she worked for Luedtke Floral and later, at the Clark County Insurance Agency while moonlighting as a cook, first at the Riviera and later at the Hacienda. In 1984, she bought a restaurant on Division Street and named it “Mary Lou’s Restaurant”. She owned and operated the restaurant, successfully, until 1999 when she sold it and, shortly after, moved to Eau Claire, where she worked part-time as a cook and baker at Oakleaf Surgical Hospital. After retiring from the hospital, she moved back to Neillsville in 2010, where she resided until her death.

Mary Lou was a member of the United Church of Christ and sang in their choir for many years. She also directed the junior choir, served on the music committee and belonged to the Circle of Friends, serving as secretary and treasurer.

She is survived by four daughters, Shelley (Dan Nelson) Meredith of Eau Claire, Valerie (Tom Ringstad) Eiden of Arbor Vitae, Marjorie (Kevin Krumenauer) Volbrecht of Eau Claire, and Janet (Mike Marshall) of Neillsville, nine grandchildren, Clarice Hughs, Elice Seebandt, Blair (Don) Finstad, Amanda (Tom) Starks, Brittany Opelt, Amelia Eckes, Sydney Volbrecht, Micaela Volbrecht and Brooks Hoenisch six great grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, Rose Hagie of Prairie du Sac, and Phyllis Hagie of San Antonio, TX and a son-in-law, Andy Rueth of Neillsville.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, Tracey Rueth, three brothers, Douglas, Gordon and John “Jack” Hagie and one sister-in-law, Lillian Hagie.

A Memorial Service for Mary Lou will be held at 4:00 p.m., Monday, March 25, 2019 at the United Church of Christ in Neillsville. Pastor Jacoba Koppert will officiate. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., Monday at the United Church of Christ. A private burial will be held at a later date.

Online Condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting Mary Lou’s family with funeral arrangements.