Mary Muskat

Monona - Mary Julia (Barger) Muskat, age 90, of Monona passed away peacefully on May 24, 2017 at Agrace HospiceCare. She was born on April 17, 1927 at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, the first child of Alfred C. and Anne V. (Lamey) Barger. Mary's parents were farmers, but at the time of her birth, they lived and worked on Madison's east side. During the Great Depression, the family returned to farming, first as tenant farmers in the Town of Dunn and eventually as owners of their own farm in Fisher Valley, Town of Oregon. As the oldest of 11 children, Mary was responsible for helping her mother care for her younger siblings. Although she didn't know it at the time, working with young children would become Mary's vocation. Mary attended Hook Lake School, Fisher Valley School, and Oregon High School, graduating in 1944. Mary attended Edgewood College where she received her BS degree in kindergarten and primary education in 1948. After graduation, Mary joined the Edgerton City School faculty. While on a blind date at an Edgewood College prom in 1948, she met the love of her life, Gregory F. Muskat. Mary and Greg were married on June 17, 1950 at Holy Mother of Consolation Church, Oregon. The young couple resided in Edgerton, where Mary was teaching kindergarten. When Mary was expecting their first child, she quit her job, which was the practice at the time. When they started their family, Mary and Greg moved to the east side of Madison, where Greg was working. By their fourth wedding anniversary, they had three children. In 1957 Mary and Greg purchased their home in Monona. When her children were old enough to attend school, Mary went back to work, picking up substitute teaching assignments in Madison, Monona, and Oregon. In 1961 she joined the faculty of Maywood School in Monona as a kindergarten teacher. While raising her fourth child, Mary again left teaching to be a full-time mother and housewife. During that time, she utilized her educational skills by volunteering to teach CCD at Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Monona and as a den mother in Cub Scout Pack 424. When Mary's youngest child reached middle school, she took classes to be certified to work with preschool children. In 1973 Mary became head teacher at Lakeview Nursery School in Madison, a job she thoroughly enjoyed. She stayed at Lakeview for 19 years, finally retiring from teaching in May, 1993. Mary and Greg were happily married for 65 years. During their life together, they were members of St Raphael's Cathedral in Madison, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monona, St. Paul's University Catholic Center in Madison, St. Bernard's in Madison, and St. Dennis in Madison. In their final years, Mary and Greg received pastoral visits from members of Greg's home parish, Our Lady Queen of Peace in Madison. Mary loved working with children, and through her years of teaching, she touched many lives. Every Christmas, she received cards from her former students, and she remembered them all. To Mary, each child was special and unique, a treasure to be cherished.

Mary is survived by her three daughters, Deborah Muskat of Monona, Sharon Hennessey of Tomah, and Jeanne Engerman of Madison; a son, David (Lynn) Muskat of Madison; five grandsons, Kevin (Sarah) Hennessey of West Salem, Brian (Jessica) Hennessey of Tomah, Michael (Laura) Engerman of Seoul, South Korea, Stephen Engerman and Reid Muskat of Madison; five great grandchildren; six siblings, Helen (Timothy) Matthews, John (Jeanne) Barger, Lois (Richard) Bradley, Kathleen (Charles) Rowley, Edward (Barbara) Barger, and Roger (Jennifer) Barger; four sisters-in-law; three brothers-in-law; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Besides her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband Greg in January, 2016; infant sisters, Evelyn and Margaret Barger; brothers, Emmett and Raymond Barger; one sister-in-law, and two brothers-in-law.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 Noon on Friday, June 9, 2017 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison with Msgr. Kenneth J. Fiedler presiding. Burial will follow immediately in Resurrection Cemetery in Madison. The visitation will be Thursday, June 8, 2017 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison and one hour prior to Mass on Friday at the church. A rosary service will begin at 6:45 p.m. Thursday evening.

Memorials can be made to the Catholic Multicultural Center, 1862 Beld Street, Madison, WI, 53713 or Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711.

The family is very appreciative of the care and support provided by the Agrace HospiceCare team and volunteers as well as Mary's devoted BrightStar caregivers: Wytavia, Candis, Holly, Aly, Nicole, Marissa, Oniqua, Lois, Sharon, Regina, Jasmine, and Katesha. A special thanks to Father George Ontko from Agrace HospiceCare and to Patricia and Robert for providing hours of entertainment on the accordion and piano.

Please share your memories of Mary.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434