Marie Emily Waldhart
1925-2023
Marie Emily Waldhart passed away peacefully in Eau Claire, on Dec. 30, 2023, with her loving family at her side. Marie was born on June 5, 1925, to Frank and Marie Beyerl, almost three months premature at the Beyerl homestead in Colby. Her mother was ill and passed away two days after Marie’s birth. Aunt Carrie Schuster came to care for tiny Marie and her many siblings. Against all odds, not only did Marie survive, but she thrived for another 98 years.
In 1941, Marie met the love of her life, Herbert Waldhart, at a high school dance in Stetsonville. They married on June 9, 1948 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Colby. They took up residence on the Waldhart family homestead in Stetsonville with Herb’s parents. Herb and Marie were blessed with 11 children. Prior to their marriage, Marie obtained her nursing diploma from the Nurse Cadet Corp, a division of the U.S. Army. She worked as a registered nurse in the obstetrics department at Medford Hospital in addition to the tireless undertaking of raising her children. Marie also helped in running their small dairy farm and growing a huge vegetable garden. The countless jars of canned, dry, and frozen vegetables she produced helped sustain her large family through the cold winter months. In a true spirit of generosity, Marie always had room at the small dinner table for friends and extended family, as she often invited others to partake.
Trying something new was Marie’s way of staying active and engaged. After she retired, and after the death of Herb from cancer in 1993, she became a hospice volunteer and took up oil painting and piano. She became an avid golfer and even got a hole in one. Marie was a shrewd card player and enjoyed playing sheepshead, cribbage, and hand and foot. Needlepoint, puzzles, and bird watching were other hobbies that kept her busy. Her sense of adventure resulted in a trip to India when she was 89 years old to visit Fr. Gali Show Reddy (Fr. Showry) who became part of the family.
But Marie is best known for her nonjudgmental acceptance of everyone she met. She welcomed all into her larger family and showered them with kindness, reassurance, and unconditional love. Marie faced life with authenticity and a healthy sense of humor. As the true matriarch of the family, she was the anchor, the glue that held everyone together.
Most importantly, Marie was deeply religious, and her faith was her guiding light. She relied on prayer to face the trials in life and to celebrate its joys. And celebrate she did with her family and friends at the many large Waldhart gatherings. The countless smiles on her face told a story of the love she held in her heart for so many. Her favorite expression was, “Isn’t life wonderful?!”
Marie is survived by her children, Diane Landry, Lee (Mary) Waldhart, Francine Waldhart, Phil (Donna) Waldhart, Tom (Janet) Waldhart, Steve (Deb) Waldhart, Rick (Tracy) Waldhart, Jeanine (Hugh) Feirer, Peggy (Mark) Larsen, JoAnn (Jim) Adams. She is further survived by 33 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
Marie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Herbert; her dear son, Gary; her sons-in-law, Harry Langjahr and Bill Landry, her daughters-in-law, Sherry Golz-Waldhart and Jody Waldhart; her siblings, Arnold, Martha (Bill) Dolan, Sophie (Earl) Schigley, Laura (Ervin) Meyer, John, Helen (George) Edelbeck, Paul (Lucille) Beyerl, Ida (Ray) Draxler, Margaret (Ed) Charnitz, Gertrude (Ray) Godlewski, Jacob (Rosemary) Beyerl, Francis, Frankie, Tony, Jenny, and Gib.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Louis Catholic Church at 11 a.m. in Dorchester on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, with Father Tim Oudenhoven officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in the church. Private burial will take place immediately after Mass, followed by a luncheon at the Centennial Community Center in Stetsonville.
The family extends its appreciation to the caring staff at Heritage Assisted Living in Eau Claire which was Marie’s home for the past two years. Also, a special thank you to the hospice nurses at St. Croix Hospice for their compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Catholic Relief Services at https://www.crs.org (228 W. Lexingtion St., Baltimore, MD 21201-3443) or St. Croix Hospice, 1280 W. Clairemont Ave #4, Eau Claire, WI 54701.
The Hemer Pickerign Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family. For more information, please visit www.hemerfuneralservices.com.
Paid Obituary 146868
