Mary L Kroll

Mary Lynne Kroll passed away on June 17, 2024, surrounded by her family at the age of 73 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on April 30, 1951, in Milwaukee, WI. 

Mary attended school in Milwaukee at St. Matthew’s, St. John’s Cathedral High School, and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where she met the love of her life, Mike. They were happily married for 52 years. Mike and Mary put roots down on Milwaukee’s southwest side where she began a career as a Beautician and later found her professional calling and fulfillment as a teacher’s assistant with Milwaukee Public Schools. She had a special gift and warmed the lives of many students. 

Mary was a devoted and loving mother to Ryan, Kevin, and Tim. Central to the Kroll family life was the parish and school of St. Gregory the Great. She built lifelong friendships and treasured more stories and laughs than can be recounted. Mary was faithfully devoted to her family and the extended family from St. Greg’s her whole life.

When the boys finished school and started their lives, Mary didn’t slow down, she made up for lost time and developed an unmatched passion for quilting and won recognition in quilting completions and the Wisconsin State Fair. She found purpose and joy not only from finishing a quilt, but rather from smiles, hugs, and heartfelt thanks she received from those she gifted a quilt. No request was ever turned down, no matter how big or how small or how busy she was. 

In concert with her passion for quilting, was her love for the family cabin on Twin Lake in Westfield, Wisconsin. Mary could often be standing on the dock or on the boat with a fishing pole in hand and an endless supply of worms at her side. No more joyful laugh could be heard anywhere when Mary was pulling a fish out of the water. She passed that unbridled enthusiasm for fishing and the outdoors to her grandchildren. The family cabin on Twin Lake was a lifelong dream she created as a lake place for her family and friends. 

Mary’s spirit of adventure took to her Italy, Ireland, Scotland, and a special favorite, France. When she wasn’t traveling, quilting, volunteering, spending time with her grandchildren, baking, dog walking, and just generally being available to anyone, at any time, or any place, Mary was a voracious reader. She seemingly knew every librarian in the Milwaukee area, and she was especially passionate about reading and the importance of it in one's life. 

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, her sister and her granddaughter Hannah. She is survived by her Husband, Mike Kroll. Her son Ryan Kroll (Amy) of Chanhassen, MN and grandchildren Ryder and Paige; son Kevin Kroll (Jaime) of West Allis, Wisconsin and grandchildren Kennedy and Colton; and son Tim Kroll (Kristin) of Mukwonago, WI and grandchildren Jack and Kaitlyn. 

A Mass of Christian Burial for Mary will be held at 12:00 pm on Monday, June 24, 2024, at St. Charles Catholic Church (313 Circle Drive) Hartland, WI, with Father Ken Omernick officiating. Family and friends are invited to visit directly at church from 10:00 am until the time of service. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.