Mary Werner

It is with great sadness that the children of Mary Belle Werner share the news of her death. Mary Belle was born on January 7th, 1931 to Frank and Esther (Ries) Bersch. She attended St. Dominic grade school and Sheboygan North High School where she met the love of her life, Pat (Anthony M.) Werner in Miss Prescott's Latin class. She invited him to join her on a hayride at her uncle's farm, and the rest is history. They wed on June 30th, 1951, and after three months abroad, they spent their first few years of marriage in Washington D.C. as Pat studied for his law degree at Georgetown University. They returned to Sheboygan where Pat practiced law and served as President of The Sheboygan Press.

Mary Belle was the epitome of motherhood, and raised her large family of nine in the family home on St. Clair Avenue. She gave her children structure, discipline, and a love of culture, art, music, poetry and her faith. She also instilled in them a lifelong sense of curiosity, and the desire to learn about the world.

Mary Belle had an eye for beauty, which she shared through her painting, interior design, weaving and quilting. She was an avid reader, gardener and Scrabble player. She also loved singing in her church choir. Mary Belle was a leader in the pro-life movement in Sheboygan County and served as Executive Director of Birthright for 6 years. She volunteered for many years at St. Nicholas Hospital, St. Vincent DePaul and the Sheboygan County Historical Society.

After her brave battle with cancer, Mary Belle entered her long awaited heaven on April 9th, 2017 where she will watch over the children she leaves behind: Gretchen and Claude Schuttey (Mequon), Matt and Sylvia Werner (Highlands Ranch, CO), Johanna Werner (St. Paul, MN) Kevin and Sharon Werner (Sheboygan), Patrick Werner (St. Paul, MN), Christopher and Lona Werner (Sheboygan), Paula and Ron Kletzien (Sheboygan), and Atty. Gerard Werner (Sheboygan) along with her treasured 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Joan (Jerry) Schnettler of Appleton, Dennis (Mary) Bersch of Mequon, Esther (Bob) Vadnais of Woodstock, IL, Frances Bigari (Grafton) and John Bersch (Sheboygan) and her dear sisters-in-law, Sr. Mary Ellen Werner, Joanne Werner, Letty Werner and Heleln Werner all of Sheboygan. Mary Belle has been reunited with loved ones who pre-deceased her: her husband, Pat, her daughter Mary Ellen, her brothers Frederick and Charles Bersch, and a host of Bersch's and Ries' who are too busy playing cards and telling stories to meet her at the gate.

The family would like to thank Sarah, Terri, and Brittany from St. Nicholas Hospice, for their kind compassionate care, and her caregivers, Baya and Vera who gave her the utmost tender and loving care. We are forever grateful. Visitation will be held at Holy Name Church on Friday, April 21st at 9:30 am, followed by a Latin Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am. Memorials may be made in her name to the Holy Name Legacy Fund or New Hope Pregnancy Center.