Obituaries

To view the livestream of Mary's Funeral Mass please click the link below:

St Thomas Aquinas Church Madison - YouTube

Watertown, WI / Bradenton, FL – Mary K. Skupniewitz, age 79, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, May 12, 2024.

She was born on July 26, 1944, in Beaver Dam, WI to Joseph and Helen (Kerwitzer) Kumba. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Mount Mary College, then completed her Master's in Education at the University of Illinois.

She met and married Joseph W. Skupniewitz, also from Beaver Dam, WI in 1966. After Joseph’s service in the Air Force, they settled on the west side of Madison, where they remained for the next 30 years. During retirement they split time between Bradenton, FL and with family in WI and MI.

Mary began her career as a teacher in Hales Corners, WI. Throughout her life she worked a variety of jobs in many different industries but stayed centered on her family. She taught her children that there was nothing they couldn’t do in life – they could choose any career and pivot as needed. She retired from the UW Madison School of Business career center where she helped students transition into working professionals.

Mary was a wonderful mother who was always there for her family. She allowed her children a balance of independence and guidance, with unwavering support. She was the foundation of a friendly, loving, accepting household – welcoming all. She recognized God in others and appreciated and respected the inherent dignity within all people. Mary was active in the Catholic Church and felt it was important to bring her children up in the faith.

Mary loved nature. Gardening was a life-long passion. She was a Master Gardener and loved to share her knowledge when needed. Everyone has a memory of her working outdoors. For example, with the help of friends, Mary and Joe planted hundreds of white pine trees –by hand, out on “Crazy Acres”. Once grown many of these trees were given to churches for display at Christmastime.

Throughout her life, she loved to travel and experience different cultures. She was an avid reader and always had a book in progress. She found enjoyment in attending plays, musicals, concerts, and visiting museums. She kept herself informed on current events, recognizing the importance of learning from different sources and opinions. We can still picture her working on a puzzle at the dining room table, with NPR on in the background.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph W. Skupniewitz and their son Jospeh P. Skupniewitz.

She is loved and adored by her daughter Rita, son Joseph E, daughter Beth (Stephen) Pape, and grandson Monty.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 602 Everglade Dr, Madison. A visitation will be held on Wednesday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass. A private Interment will be held at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choice. One of Mary’s favorite charities was Second Harvest Food Bank.

To view the guestbook and share your memories of Mary please go to: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.