Mary A Hegna
MARY ANN (JULSON) HEGNA
Mary Hegna died peacefully on December 8, 2011 surrounded by the love of her four daughters after a courageous journey with Lewy Body Dementia. Mary was reunited with her husband, Tom, who preceded her in death in 2010.
Mary was born on the family farm in Curran, WI on February 10, 1932. She was the first born to Glenn and Agnes Julson, a loving Norwegian family. Their family would grow to include her brothers, Harvey, Glenn and Don. Together they would learn to appreciate the love of family, music, lefse and lutefisk.
Mary graduated from Eau Claire Memorial High School in 1950. She married Tom, the love of her life, on Christmas Day in 1955. They settled in Menomonie, WI, where they began to build a family of their own full of love, laughter and adventure. They were blessed with four daughters who filled their lives with joy.
In the early years of her marriage, while raising her daughters, Mary provided in home day care, sharing her love with many children. After her girls began school, Mary worked at Schultz Brothers’, a dime store on Main Street in Menomonie.
In the mid 1970’s, Mary began working at 3M, from which she retired after 25 years. Equally important to Mary was her community, where she demonstrated her giving spirit through volunteer work with the hospital auxiliary, Meals on Wheels, the American Red Cross and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
Throughout 54 years of marriage, Mary enjoyed cooking for her family, playing music, singing, dancing, camping, snowmobiling, traveling, sharing coffee with friends and attending countless activities of her children and grandchildren.
Most important to Mary, however, was her family, daughters and sons-in-law, Terry (Dave), Kathy (Paul), Wendy (Jeff) and Laury (David); and her five grandchildren, Megan, Nicklas, Emma, Josie and Hannah. Mary’s brothers and their families, as well as Tom’s brothers and their families, were also special in her life.
Mary taught her family endless lessons of compassion, generosity and unconditional love. Mary would go on to teach these lessons not only to her family but to her extended family of caregivers, who had become a big part of her life, as well.