Mary E. Tujetsch
Mary E. Tujetsch, 100, of Guttenberg, passed away on Nov. 21, 2021, at Guttenberg Care Center with family beside her.
Funeral services were Friday, Nov. 26, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Guttenberg, conducted by Rev. Marvin Bries. Visitation was before services at the church.
Interment was at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Guttenberg.
Arrangements were handled by Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home, Guttenberg.
Mary was born on Oct. 29, 1921, on a dairy farm in Farley to Frank and Mary (Jerina) Zalaznik. She attended St. Joseph’s Elementary and High School graduating in 1939. Mary loved growing up on the farm, and helped out with milking, occasionally driving a tractor and mowing the huge lawn with a hand-powered mower.
In 1940, she met her future husband, Gene Tujetsch at a dance in Dyersville. They dated for 5 years, much of the time by letter when Gene was overseas in WWII. They married on May 21, 1946, at St. Joseph’s Church in Farley. Mary worked at the family business, Tujetsch Grocery for 20 years with her husband Gene and father-in-law, Lenz. Later when Gene became postmaster of Guttenberg, Mary supported him by attending postal meetings and NAPUS events.
Mary loved decorating, baking, cooking and hosting dinners for family and friends. She was an excellent seamstress. Mary and Gene also loved dancing to Big Bands at Lakeside Ballroom in Guttenberg and Melody Mill in Dubuque. She loved reading but when she lost most of her sight, Mary listened to at least 2 books on tape per week. She faced any setbacks with grace and courage. She loved being a wife and mother. Her strong faith was always present in her life.
Mary was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Parish where she was a member of St. Anne’s Society and St. Mary’s Home School Association. She was a CCD teacher and took part in many other volunteer activities. She also was on the Guttenberg Library Board and a member of the Legion Auxiliary for over 70 years. Mary spent many winters in Florida with her daughter and son-in-law. She made many friends there and was a member of St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church in the Villages. Mary tutored children in reading at Lady Lake Elementary School and belonged to Operation Shoebox, where she packed gift bags for soldiers deployed overseas.
Mary is survived by her daughter Ann (Doug) Fariello; sister-in-law, Alice (Keith) Neely; brother-in-law, Robert (Bettie) Tujetsch; goddaughters, Mary Ellen (Bill) Smith, Jeanette (Chris) Muller and Joan (Todd) Vorwald; godsons, Elmer (Kay) Heitz, Blake (Julia) Moore and Mark DeShaw; many cousins, nieces, nephews; great nieces and nephews and many friends whom she loved dearly. Mary was able to celebrate her 100th birthday with many of them.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband Gene in 2007; siblings, Frances (Ray) Heitz, Vic (Eunice) Zalaznik, Ed (Florence-Shirley) Zalaznik, Ernie (Vivian) Zalaznik and Kenneth (Phyllis-LeAnn) Zalaznik; mother- and father-in-law, Hilda and Lenz Tujetsch; brother-in-law, Jerry (Adele) Tujetsch; nieces, JoAnn Steinhoff, Karla Zalaznik, Karol Zalaznik, Carol Dahmen and Sharon Zander; nephews, Gene Heitz, Tom Tujetsch and Paul Zalaznik.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to St. Mary’s Church or St. Mary’s School in Guttenberg.
Special thanks to all the wonderful doctors, nurses, caregivers and staff at the Guttenberg Care Center. They were extremely giving and caring to Mary and she considered them all her friends. Also thank you to St. Croix Hospice for their care, loving support and compassion.
