Mary A. Gillitzer age 92 of Prairie du Chien passed away on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 surrounded by her family.  She was born December 31, 1924 in Wauzeka, WI, daughter of Louis and Kathryn (McCarthy) Lathrop.  She married Eugene Gillitzer on September 7, 1946 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wauzeka. Together they raised eight children. Mary’s greatest joys in life were caring for and spending time with her family and friends.

Eugene & Mary farmed in the Seneca area where they had a dairy farm.  Mary was a hard - working partner in the farm operation, helping to care for livestock, raising a garden and canning or freezing the abundant produce.  

After selling the farm, Mary worked at Advance Transformer, retiring in 1989.  Mary had a special devotion to her faith and praying the rosary.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children:  Rita Gillitzer-Doskocil of Madison, Sharon (Joe) Atkins of Prairie du Chien, Cecilia (Bill) Doskocil of LaCrosse, Arnold of Seneca, Clement of Dodgeville, Gary (Patty) of Boscobel, Veronica (Steve) Roberts of Marshfield, and Richard (Lynn) of Evansville, WI, 21 grandchildren:   Michael, Angela, Carole Ann, Tara, Eric, Lisa, Jeffery, Rhonda, Shelly, Scott, Brian, Kristin, Sarah, Danny, Eric, Ian, Gregory, Bradley, Phillip, Marilyn, Elizabeth; 2 step grandchildren: Becky and Jacob; 19 great grandchildren: Claire, Carter, Alex, Jordan, Jada, Mya, Hunter, Justin, Drew, Ellie, Wesley, Jackson, Calvin, Rosemary, Eli, Melissa, Zach, Beau, Scarletta and one step great grandchild Ashton

Brothers in Law; John (Norma) Gillitzer of Prairie du Chien, Roger (Janice) Gillitzer of Janesville, Richard McGrath of Madison and Thomas Check of Janesville.  Sister in Law Marjean Kern of Kiel WI, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Eugene.  Her parents and siblings:  Norma Sprosty, John, Lawrence, James & Joseph Lathrop.  Two grandsons, Isaac and Eli Gillitzer, a great grandson Alex Roberts along with daughters in law Laura Gillitzer and Mary Gillitzer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday October 30th at 11:00 AM at St. Gabriel’s Church of the Holy Family Parish in Prairie du Chien, Rev. James Weighner officiating, with burial in St. Patrick’s Church Cemetery in Seneca.  Friends may call at St. Gabriel’s Church on Monday October 30th from 9:30 am until the time of services. 

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