Mary E. Van Beek

Mary E. Van Beek (nee Ahler), age 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on January 20, 2017. She was born November 30, 1928, in Burlington, Wisconsin to the late Herbert and Elisabeth Ahler. Mary graduated from St. Mary's High School in Burlington in 1946. Shortly afterward she moved to Milwaukee to attend Miss Brown's Business School. She had several jobs before marrying the love of her life Douglas A. Van Beek on October 21, 1950 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Burlington. Children soon followed and she dedicated herself to raising children and homemaking. She also filled her days by volunteering her time at various Catholic churches and schools. Mary served as a Boy Scout merit badge counselor and as a volunteer with the Trimborn Farm - Park People and Friends of Boerner. After the children were gone from home, Mary worked for Our Lady of Lourdes Parish as a part-time secretary. Since Doug's death in 2011, Mary volunteered at Our Lady of Lourdes, singing in the Resurrection Choir and doing monthly collating. Mary is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Doug, her parents Herbert and Elisabeth Ahler, brothers Edward and Richard and sister Jean. Mary is survived by her brother James. Mary and Doug have six children Janice Davie (Bruce), Margaret Krawczyk (Hank), Karen Bushman (Tom), Julie Brown (Mark), Andrew Van Beek (Elizabeth) and Joseph Van Beek (Colette). She was immensely proud of her children and often boasted about her 10 grandchildren (Christopher, Jeremy, Kathleen, Martin, Taylor, Alise, Theodore, Emily, Rachael and Nathan) and her great grandchildren (Marley, Douglas, Elizabeth, and Peter). Relatives and friends of Mary Van Beek are welcome to the visitation at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 3722 South 58th, Milwaukee on Wednesday, January 25 from 11am-noon. Funeral Liturgy follows. In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name to Susan G. Komen or St. Benedict the Moor Parish Meal Program are appreciated.