Mary Rose A. Lepak

A limb has fallen from the Family Tree….

Mary Rose Head-Lepak, Age 86 passed away with grace and peace on November 12th, 2024 surrounded by her family.

Mary Rose was born on January 9th, 1938, in the town of Holland.  She was the youngest of 9 and was raised on her family farm.  Mary Rose met her first love, David Richard Head Sr. and they were married on April 22, 1959.  Mary and David lived in Appleton and raised 6 children while David worked for the Appleton Police Department.  They founded a recreational boat club called “The Friendships” and spent many weekends cruising up and down the Wisconsin waterways with so many friends and family.  Winters were spent snowmobiling in Crivitz, so it made sense that their dream was to live in Crivitz after Dad’s retirement.  Dad retired early from the Appleton Police Department, and they finally got to move to Crivitz in July of 2005.  Shortly after moving, Dad passed away from pancreatic cancer in December of the same year.  Mom wanted to keep their dream alive and stayed to live in Crivitz.  After a couple of years, Mom was contemplating giving up on this dream, but then her brother Richard introduced her to his friend John Lepak.  John had also lost his wife to an illness, and they easily connected and became friends.  Friendship grew into love and John and Mary were married on July 11, 2008, and have spent every day living their best lives.  They became snowbirds spending the winters in Florida and returned to Crivitz for the summer months.  They shared many fond moments listening to music in “the shed” and played many games of cribbage and solitaire over the past 16 years.   Mom embodied the best of qualities: unconditional love, strength of spirit and an unending generosity for her family and friends.  She was always caring about the welfare of her children, acting to help them above herself. 

Mary Rose is survived by her husband John Lepak, her children Paul (Victoria) Head, David Jr. (Karla) Head, Kevin (Lisa) Head, Allan (Alicia) Head, Kelly Ann (Jim) VandeBerg and Lisa Farley.  She is further survived by 16 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, her sister Rita Nelessen, Sister-in-laws Rosie Schmidt and Ione Head.  Brother-in-laws Bobby (Kathy) VanHandel, Don (Debi) VanHandel, Mike VanHandel, John’s children Lianne Devaney, Michelle Lepak (Dave Kangas), Genee Lepak (Dennis Jackson) and many other relatives and friends.

Mary Rose was proceeded in death by her parents, John and Hattie Schmidt, her first husband David Head Sr., grandson Ross Marquissee, her brothers, Richard, Vincent, Clifford, Joseph and Buddy Schmidt, sisters, Anaceil Randerson and Delores Schmidt.  Sister-in-laws, Rita, Theresa and Jean Schmidt, Marion Hoffman, Nancy Bevers and Barbara Dunn.  Brother-in-laws, Keith Head, Dave Bevers, Jim Nelessen and Pat Randerson.

A service remembering the life of Mary Rose will be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Valley Funeral Home, 2211 N. Richmond St., Appleton. Visitation will begin at the funeral home at 11:00 a.m. and will continue until the time of the service. For online condolences, please visit www.valleyfh.com.

A LIMB has fallen from the Family Tree that says do not Greive for me.  Remember the BEST TIMES, The Laughter, the song, the GREAT life I lived while I was STRONG.

Mom, you have been such a strong, perfect woman.  God worked extra overtime when creating you with all your beauty and grace.   We will miss you dearly.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.