Verona - Mary Ann Ehly, age 96, peacefully passed away on September 28th, 2021. Mary Ann was born Mary Antoniette Triska to Anton and Clara (Imming) Triska in Hanover, Kansas on August 26, 1925.

While Mary Ann was in high school, she worked at the local newspaper where she met her future husband, Al Ehly, who was in town for work from Logan, Kansas. After Al returned from serving in the Army Air Corp during WWII, they were united in marriage on December 27, 1945. Once married, they packed their car and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he completed his degree in Forestry. They began their family and his career brought them to Wisconsin, where they were delighted to call themselves Wisconsinites.

Mary Ann re-entered the workforce with the State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture in 1966. There she skillfully juggled the duties of Alice in Dairyland and the World Dairy Expo. She was very proud of her job and retired in 1990.

As a family writing this, how do you put the entire life of an individual, and especially a mother, into a few sentences? Mom was a woman with tremendous grace, true grit, determination, light hearted humor and an enormous heart. She was an accomplished organist and violinist with a beautiful singing voice. She enjoyed gardening and was an active volunteer in her church. Her favorite pastime was playing bridge. She adored her family and all of the children that came into her life. She loved Christmas and the joy it brought to everyone. The lessons mom taught us by example are ones of compassion, hard work, generosity, humor and love. Her gentle touch and kind words will truly be missed.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her beloved husband Alta E. Ehly in 1977, daughters Mina Ehly and Connie Nemovitz, her parents, and her brother Roland Triska.

Mary Ann is lovingly survived by her children Carly (Tom) Schmelzer, Mike (Pat) Ehly, and Rita (Steve) Wedderspoon. She is also survived by her son-in-law Paul Nemovitz and her brother Francis Triska along with 15 adored grandchildren and 32 precious great grandchildren.

A visitation will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 401 S. Owen Dr, Madison, WI on Friday, October 15th at noon, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 1:30 pm. Interment will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.

A special thank you to the staff at Noel Manor and to Agrace Hospice staff for their exceptional care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to Wisconsin Talking Book & Braille Library, 813 West Wells St. Milwaukee, WI 53233 or to Olbrich Botanical Garden, www.olbrich.org/donate/rememberances.cfm .

To view and sign a guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Verona Chapel

220 Enterprise Drive

608-845-6625

Mary Ehly

August 26, 1925 - September 28, 2021

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