The Heavenly Choir gained a talented new member when Mary G. “Issie” Peterson (nee Grimm) passed away on September 30, 2014. Family, music and service to others formed the cornerstones of Mary’s active and fun-filled life.
Born in Chicago and raised in Evanston, Ill., Mary graduated in 1947 from Lawrence College with a major in voice and a minor in piano. While at college, she lent her lovely mezzo voice to an Andrews-sisters-type group, Bits of Honey, which performed in the Appleton area.
After college and marriage to Robert (Bob) in 1948, Mary continued to enjoy music. In 1976, she was a charter member of the Wisconsin Conservatory Symphony Chorus (later the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus), which she sang with for nearly 30 years. She was also a member of the Florentine Opera Chorus and gave piano lessons to her four children, as well as just about every other child in their Glendale neighborhood.
At the United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay, Mary sang solos, duets and ensembles in the Chancel Choir, as did Bob; directed the Children’s Choir; and directed the first K4/K5 choir. The kids called her “Mrs. Music.”
As important as music was to Mary, family was more so. When her children were growing up, Mary was a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Brownie and Girl Scout leader. She attended their every play, every sporting event, every recital. And when grandkids came along, she did the same, sometimes traveling unbelievable distances just to be at a grandchild’s birthday party. She was never too busy for family.
Mary’s other church activities were the Sunday School Guild and Altar Guild, the United Methodist Women, WOW (Women Offering Worship) and worship study groups. Her community activities included tutoring elementary students for Milwaukee’s Silver Spring School.
Among Mary’s other passions — and she was passionate about everything she undertook — were knitting, reading, volunteering as a naturalist at Riveredge Nature Center, and being at the family cabin in Land o’ Lakes. She was also an intrepid traveler, and in fact enjoyed Kenya so much that she took all her children on a safari there. She was an excellent cook and an avid Packers fan. She had hundreds of friends, hated any type of discrimination and threw fabulous parties, especially after Symphony Chorus performances.
To her, “boredom” was a swear word. “If you have a mind,” she often said, “you can’t be bored.”
Mary’s spirit lives on with Bob, her husband of 66 years; with her children Judith (Clare) Zempel, David Peterson, Christopher (Kelly Ramsak) Peterson, and Patsy (David) Tollberg; with her grandchildren and step-grandchildren Jennifer (Ruben) Smith-Zempel and Emily (Jonathon) Zempel Roberts; Sean and Rebecca Peterson; Heather and Jason Blachowski; Jesse and Jaime Peterson; Jill and Phong Chau; Scott Baxter; Lara Lirely; Cale Clinkert; Rachel (Zach) Blend, Jessica (Jake) Qian, and Amanda (Jonathan) Schaade; and with her great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren Walter Zempel Roberts; Stella, Samira, and Violet Peterson; Aidan and Avery Blachowski; Salem and Aaliyah Peterson; Taylor Chau; Anika Baxter; and Norah and (soon-to-be-born) Maren Blend.
Visitation Saturday, October 25, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. followed by a Memorial Service at 12:00 noon at United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay, 819 E. Silver Spring Dr., Whitefish Bay. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the charity of your choice that would benefit the arts, education, nature or religion.
