Mary Beth Tomlinson

Mary Beth Tomlinson
November 19, 1947 – May 16, 2026

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Mary Beth Tomlinson, whose warmth and generosity left an enduring mark on all who knew her. 

Mary Beth Tomlinson, age 78, of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026, surrounded by family, following complications from breast cancer. Throughout her illness, she met each challenge with strength, grace, and courage. 

Mary Beth was born on November 19, 1947, in Evanston, Illinois to Edward Kolb and Mildred (Jacobsen) Kolb. The oldest of four children, she grew up helping in the family flower shop, where she developed a strong work ethic that stayed with her throughout her life. She pursued her dream of higher education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, earning a degree in Education. It was there that she met her “special guy,” Ralph Tomlinson.

Ralph and Mary Beth were married on October 24, 1970 at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Brookfield WI. Theirs was a love grounded in strong Catholic faith and devotion to family. Together they raised four boys who blessed them with four daughters-in-law and nine grandchildren—one of the joys and roles she held most dear.  

She treasured simple family traditions, including Sunday dinners, Christmas gingerbread houses, Moon Walks, and game nights filled with Scrabble. She made it a priority to take each grandchild to Grandparent University and delighted in the fact that they each chose different majors. An avid reader and lifelong learner, she shared her curiosity and love of learning in a way that was contagious to all around her.

She was a dedicated educator, and a woman of strong principal and unwavering integrity. She taught English and Latin at multiple schools including St. James and Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart. Later in life, she returned to school and earned a degree in Interior Design, discovering a renewed sense of creativity and purpose through fabrics, color, and artistic expression. 

She had a gift of allowing everyone to be exactly as they were and loved them dearly for it. She wasn’t too fancy for wine in a coffee cup, a conga line with the grandkids, or a hairless photo with all her beloved sons. She was a quilter, a crocheter, and a sewist and spent many hours creating one of a kind quilts that would become a most treasured possession for the receiver. Each time she saw you, she would pull you into a hug that felt like coming home. With a quiet kiss near your ear, she always made you feel deeply cherished.

Mary Beth is survived by her husband, Ralph Tomlinson; her sons Paul (Cindy) Tomlinson and their children Erin and Jack, Joe (Jennifer) Tomlinson and their children Mason and Solene, Mike (Melanie) Tomlinson and their children Myles and Mya, Matt (Erin) Tomlinson and their children Gunner and Charley. Her brother Jim of Oshkosh, WI, her sister Marlene (Jim) Buechel of Sun City, AZ, and her brother Rick (Mary) of Englewood, TN. She leaves behind many nieces and nephews and many other special family members, close friends, and the Quilting Babes.

She was preceded in death by her parents Edward Kolb and Mildred (Jacobsen) Kolb, her brother-in-law Tom Tomlinson, and her grandson Will Tomlinson.

A private service will be held for family and close friends. A Celebration of Life will be announced and held at a later date.

A livestream of the private service will be available at 11:00 a.m., May 20. To view the livestream, please click the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@StThomasAquinasChurchMadison

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to St. James Catholic School - Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart, or The Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation, Inc.

Pax et bonum!

For more information or to leave a memory, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Ryan Funeral Service & Legacy Center

6728 Mader Drive

608-274-1000