Mary F. Wilkie

Mary Wilkie
March 13, 1929 - February 13, 2020

Mary Wilkie, longtime resident of Waukesha, passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning, exactly one month short of her 91st birthday.
Mary was the oldest of the seven children of Frank and Frances Boehmke, and grew up on Cook Street, while attending St. Joseph’s Catholic Grade School, and proceeded to graduate from Waukesha High School in 1947.
It did not take Mary long to find out that a family life was her calling. Within two years, she met and married E. James “Jim” Wilkie, who was then a student at Carroll College.
Mary and Jim loved Waukesha enough to call it “home”, and while raising five children, Mary stayed forever active. She and Jim built several houses in Waukesha for their family, before eventually settling in for more than 50 years on Downing Drive, where they proudly constructed the 1st home in the Seitz Estates.
Mary was a founding member of St. William’s Catholic Church and a longtime member of St. Mary’s Parish, where she participated as President of the Catholic Study Club. She was a member/volunteer for the Waukesha Service Club for many years, a past President of the Waukesha Symphony Auxiliary, a voting poll volunteer, and loved her friends of Foxy Ladies.
Mary loved her family the most, and shared with them her love for much, including travel, hosting family events, cooking, gardening, going to the lake, canning and storing vegetables, wallpapering, flowers, home decorating, camping, and Door County.
She will be missed by her 5 children: Sue (Harlin) Boyd in Waukesha, Steve (Debbie) in Cape Coral, FL, Tom in Pewaukee, John (Paula) in Waupaca, WI, and Dan (Katie) in Waukesha.
More important, “Nani” will be remembered forever by her 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, with whom she shared very much, not the least of which were her humorous recollections of family life.
Mary was a terrific storyteller, and her story also included her wonderful siblings. She is further survived by her brother David Boehmke in Oxford, WI, and her sisters Susie Kocher in Waukesha, and Barbara (Robert) Dunn in Upland, CA, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by brothers James Boehmke, Richard Boehmke, and a sister, Anna Mae Miglautsch.
Mary is now faithfully re-united with the love of her life, Jim Wilkie.
The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at AngelsGrace in Oconomowoc, and Bonita Garcia, for their thoughtful help in transition.
Visitation will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 225 S. Hartwell Ave. in Waukesha on Tuesday, February 18 at 1 p.m., followed by a Mass at 3 p.m., or you may wish to join the family for a buffet following the Mass to celebrate her life from 4:30 until 8 p.m. at Tuscan Hall, 409 Delafield Street in Waukesha.
In lieu of sending flowers, Mary would want you to plant a few. Memorials to AngelsGrace in Oconomowoc or the Waukesha Service Club would also be appreciated.