Mary Ann (Wenzl) Blecha

Mary Ann (Wenzl) Blecha, 82, of Humboldt, Nebraska was born on June 29, 1935 in Pawnee City, Nebraska to Charles J. and Ellen Nora (Raitora) Wenzl.  She was raised in the Table Rock area where she attended Maple Grove District #17 country school through the 8th grade.  Mary Ann then attended Table Rock High School graduating with the class of 1952.  On February 18, 1958, Mary Ann was united in marriage to Richard Blecha at St. John’s Catholic Church in Table Rock, Nebraska.  To this union six children, Carolyn, Marvin, David, Deb, Kevin, and Brenda were born.  The couple raised their family together in Humboldt where Mary Ann was a homemaker for most of her life.

Mary Ann was a cancer survivor and recently enjoyed a 60th wedding anniversary celebration hosted by their children. She loved to travel and spend time with family throughout her lifetime. When she was four years old, she traveled by train to St. Louis to see her Great Aunt’s Jubilee (a Nun). They saw the Arch being built and she was glad to see the St. Louis Arch again in the 1990’s when she took a bus trip through that area.  Many fun family vacations were spent with relatives in the Kearney area and a yearly family reunion in the park in York (half way for traveling.) Many Sundays were spent with family, hiking and picnics at Indian Cave State Park and Burchard State Park. She and Richard traveled to Las Vegas and enjoyed the Casinos in Kansas with family and friends. They made annual trips to Branson. Last year, Mary Ann and Richard traveled to Florida to spend time with family and experience the beach and ocean.

Through the years, she was employed at Campbell’s in Tecumseh, waitressing at the Table Rock Hotel, homemaker with her six children, and a babysitter to many children in and around Humboldt, along with some of her grandchildren. Mary Ann was an EMT and a member of the first crew (1967) for the Humboldt Ambulance Squad and remained an active member for 17 years.  

She was a Girl Scout leader, taught CCD at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, and was busy making and sewing costumes for her children annually for the school plays, outfits for her children, and made many bridesmaid’s dresses. Mary Ann and Richard attended school events, plays, concerts, and sporting events for the children and grandchildren. Mary Ann was on a bowling team, she enjoyed gardening, cooking, canning, and baking. Mary Ann and Richard enjoyed going to flea markets, liked Polka music and dancing to it.

When she was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, she sang in the choir and was a soloist for weddings. Mary Ann was an Altar Society Member at St. John’s and then at St. Anthony’s when the church closed in Table Rock.

Mary Ann passed away on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, at the Pawnee County Memorial Hospital in Pawnee City, Nebraska, just three days before her 83rd birthday.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Willard Wenzl, brothers-in-law Robert and Charles Blecha and Ernest Shinn, and sisters-in-law Joan and Betty Blecha.

Mary Ann is survived by her loving husband Richard Blecha of Humboldt; children: Carolyn Blecha, Humboldt; Marvin (Candy) Blecha, Humboldt; David (Dedra) Blecha, Burchard; Deb (Tom) Greitens, Lincoln; Kevin (Kris) Blecha, Steinauer; Brenda Blecha, Humboldt; grandchildren: Dani (Tanner) Hatfield, Elkhorn; Chris (Karissa) Blecha, Gothenburg; Tim (Angie) Blecha, Tecumseh; Heather (Nolan) Stark, Fort Campbell, KY; Ben (Lisa) Blecha, Pawnee City; Megan Greitens and fiancé MaK Coufal, Chadron; Adam Greitens, Lincoln; Andrea (Jeff) Deters. Rochester, IL; great-grandchildren: Jackson Hatfield, Charlotte Blecha, Emmalynn Blecha, and Jaylee Stark; a sister Marjorie Wenzl, Table Rock; sisters-in-law: Doris Wenzl, Pawnee City; Mary Jean Shinn, Seneca, KS; brothers-in-law: John Blecha, Burchard; Morris (Fran) Blecha, Pawnee City; and many other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. 

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 2, 2018, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Steinauer, Nebraska with Father Michael Christensen officiating.

Visitation will be from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, July 1, 2018 at The Wherry Mortuary in Humboldt, Nebraska with family greeting friends from 2-4 p.m.  A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Steinauer.

Interment will be at St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery in Steinauer, Nebraska.

In lieu of flowers, memorials contributions are suggested to the family’s choice with a later designation.

Online condolences can be sent to www.wherrymortuary.com

Wherry Mortuary-207 N. Nemaha ST.- Humboldt, Nebraska (402) 862-2915

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