Mary Kathryn Geske

Mary Kathryn Geske peacefully became an angel at age 80 on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Mary was born in Janesville on December 23, 1943 to the late Russell J. and Lorraine A. (Sayre) Devitt. Mary grew up in Janesville until her family moved to Madison when she was a teenager. She graduated from West High School. After graduating, she began working at Forest Products Laboratory where she met the love of her life, Earl A. Geske and many lifelong friends. Mary and Earl retired together; Mary, 36 years and Earl, 35 years. 

Family, friends, and faith were very important to her as were her beloved pets, Sam, Sandy, Scrappy and Missy. She also loved the Packers, Nascar, and the annual family vacations to Door County. 

Mary will be dearly missed by her husband of 57 years, Earl; siblings, Pat Hendrickson, Russell (Vicki) Devitt, Susan (Jack) Stevens, and Ellen (Mark) Heitman; sister-in-law Karen Schams, brothers-in-law, Dave (Mary) Geske, Rick (Lisa) Geske; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Lorraine and in-laws, Walter and Annie Geske. 

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 18, 2024 at Our Lady Queen of Peace, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison, WI. A visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass. A reception will follow. Private burial will take place later at Decorah Prairie Cemetery in Galesville, WI.  

We would like to extend a special thank you for the kind and compassionate care given to Mary and her family by the hospice care team. 

Donations can be made in Mary’s memory to Agrace Hospice.

We welcome you to share your memories of Mary here on her Tribute Page. 

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406