Mary Ann Pflum

Mary Ann Pflum, age 87 of Appleton, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday afternoon, October 31, 2016. Mary Ann was born on August 24, 1929, daughter of the late Alois and Eleanor (Gretz) Becker. Growing up on “the Polish hill” in Manitowoc, she often sang solos at St. Mary's Church. Her father tragically passed from pneumonia when she was seven. The family continued to live and work within the Becker family grocery business. Participation in music and drama, along with working weekends as a theatre usherette, highlighted her high school years before graduation from Manitowoc Lincoln in 1947. After graduation, Mary Ann was employed at the National Tinsel Company and then at the Manitowoc shipyards as an executive secretary with impeccable short hand skills. At the shipyards, Mary Ann was introduced to a summer-help college student- and the rest is history!

On August 21, 1954, Mary Ann Becker and Edward Pflum were married at St. Mary Catholic Church in Manitowoc. The newlyweds moved to Milwaukee, where Ed completed dental school. The young couple ventured to New Orleans where Ed worked as a Naval dental officer in the Public Health Service. Later, the growing young family called Kaukauna and Appleton home for seven years. Ed's pursuit of orthodontic training at the University of Washington required a family relocation to Seattle. Following three summers of multiple trailer trips between Washington and Wisconsin, family ties prompted a move back to Wisconsin. With a permanent residence secured in Appleton, Mary Ann and Ed were blessed with six children along the journey. Year of trailer camping were followed by cottage life on the Waupaca chain, Legend Lake, and Cloverleaf Lakes. Mary Ann's family was always the primary source of joy in her life.
Mary Ann had been a member of St. Thomas More parish for over 50 years. Her strong Catholic faith and her love for music was evident by her years as a choir member, soloist, and most recently in the parish music ministry. After Ed passed in 2008, Mary Ann actively immersed herself in programs to help the less fortunate. The BEST mom ever!

Mary Ann is survived by five loving children: Bonnie (Joe) Pankratz of Waupaca; Cindy Johnson of Appleton; Mark (Lisa) Pflum of Little Chute; Chris (Janet) Pflum of New London; and Tricia (Jeff) Promer of Menasha; a daughter-in-law: Melissa Pflum of Appleton. She also leaves behind twenty-two grandchildren: Josh (Kerry), Katie, Christy (Matthew), Jimmy, Tessa, Rachel, Hannah, Zach, Jake, Nick, Ross, Isaac, Simon, Thea, Michael (Niki), Jenny, Justin (Nicole), Taylor, Kelsey, Jennifer (Ken), Tyler, and Hunter; four great-grandchildren: Logan, Peyton, Kyla, and Vera; a sister: Joan Barnes of Franklin; and a sister-in-law: Donna Durawa. Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ed in 2008, her son Nick in 2013, and her son-in-law David Johnson in 2015.

The memorial funeral liturgy for Mary Ann will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1810 N. McDonald Street in Appleton, with Fr. Gerald Falk and Fr. Jim Lucas con-celebrating. Inurnment will take place at a later date at St. Joseph Cemetery in Appleton. Family and friends are welcome to gather at the church on Saturday, November 19, from 9:00 AM until the time of the family eulogy at 10:45 AM. For more information or to share a memory of Mary Ann, please visit www.wichmannfargo.com.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established for St. Vincent De Paul.