02/03/2006
Mary Carolyn (Mulvihill) Israel, 80, passed away Friday, February 3, 2006, at Hess Memorial Hospital in Mauston. She was born in Menlo, Iowa on October 21, 1925, to Roger and Thelma M. (Andrew) Williams. She was raised by her mother and stepfather, Thomas Mulvihill.
On June 14, 1946, she married Ivan Israel in Kenosha. They then relocated to Racine, where they lived until 1987. After retiring, Mary and Ivan moved to New Lisbon, where they lived until her death.
She graduated from Knoxville High School with the Class of 1944. While there, she served as the drum majorette of the marching band. During and after high school, Mary worked at a variety of jobs including at the local roller skating rink, as a Waitress, as the Patient Accounts Clerk at the Veterans Administration Hospital, and as a Secretary at the Price Administration during World War II.
While in Racine, she worked 31 years at Twin Disc Incorporated, as Secretary to the service department. After a full and successful career, she retired in 1987. Mary was very active in the National Secretary Association and was elected President of the local Racine chapter. She also served as an officer on the state level.
Mary's great energy and enthusiasm helped to improve the organization and function of this group. For many years, Mary was an avid bowler, bowling in numerous leagues including the Monday Night Classic League, and was a member of the State 600 Club. While in Mauston, she was an active volunteer in the Literacy Council, spending many hours tutoring individuals lacking basic reading and writing skills.
Mary will be greatly missed by her family, including her husband, Ivan; her three daughters, Sheri (Tom Dantzman) Petersen of Mukwonago, Kristi (Milton) Kho of Fontana, Calif., and Paula (Keith Trummel) Israel of Berkeley, Calif.; her 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Mary was preceded in death by her mother; father; stepmother; step-father; and her brother, Thomas. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association are suggested.
Published in Racine Journal Times on Feb. 7, 2006