Mary Ann Renz

1950 - 2017

Renz, Mary Ann (Nee Hickey) Finally met a medical condition she could not overcome and passed away surrounded by loving family on January 14, 2017 at the age of 66. Survived by Greg, her husband of 43 wonderful years; sister of Peter Hickey, Thomas (Jane) Hickey, Margaret Hickey (Robert Wrenn), and Marti Hickey (Ashley Mitchell); sister-in-law of Debbie Renz, Brian (Jane) Renz, Dan (Kristin) Renz, and Lora (David) Karas; daughter-in-law of Mary Ellen Renz; aunt of Eliot (Anne) Wrenn, R. McDonald (Amanda) Wrenn, Madeleine Schulz (Zack Seuberling), Samuel Wrenn, Zoe Mitchell, Erin Hickey (Kevin May), Emily (David) Krueger, Michael (Caroline) Hickey, Lydia Hickey, Thomas Hickey, Jessica Renz (Jared Lyon), Jeffery Renz (Irene Blazquez), Taylor Karas, Jenna Karas, Taryn (Reid) Hughes, Colin Renz, and Aislinn Renz; cousin of Lisa Paul (Ross Puppe) and their daughters Catherine and Jamie, Sheila Hickey, and numerous grand -nieces/nephews, cousins and other relatives. Preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Mary Hickey and brother John Hickey. Her father was a McCarthy delegate to the 1968 Democratic convention and, always true to his view, Mary Ann apparently decided to "leave the country" while still governed by the Obama administration. She intends to watch the Green Bay Packers' 2017 Super Bowl run with Curly and Vince by her side. Mary Ann graduated with a journalism degree from Marquette University where she met Greg and formed a lifelong attachment to Warrior basketball. In the early years, she traveled to many NCAA tournament basketball games with Greg and her parents, including the Oklahoma City Regional in the Warriors' run to the 1997 NCAA Championship. Mary Ann's life's work was charitable causes and there was a long list of them, as her friends knew from always being hit up to attend an event or buy a raffle ticket or otherwise contribute money or time. Her longest running cause was Children's Hospital of Wisconsin ("CHW"), starting when she co-chaired "Holiday Fantasy World" in 1986; she also was a long-time volunteer for the Child Protection Center, and was currently on the Foundation Board (having served as Secretary in years past). She was a past vice chair of Children's Service Society of Wisconsin and throughout its lifetime served on the Child Abuse Prevention Fund (CAP Fund), both of which eventually merged into CHW. She was a long-serving member and past president of the Welfare Auxiliary of Children's Hospital. She was a chair and long-time board member of Transitional Living Services, Inc. She served on the boards of Family Service of Milwaukee and Milwaukee Psychiatric Hospital, both of which merged into Aurora entities, and on the boards of Rogers Memorial Hospital and Skylight Music Theatre. She volunteered for many other causes including the American Heart Association. Mary Ann was named the "Children's Hero" by the Welfare Auxiliary of Children's Hospital in 2003. In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America awarded her the national Donna J. Stone Award. In 2009 she received the Emelie Vogel Nunnemacher Award from CHW. She enjoyed a good laugh, the company of her friends and family, travel, reading, bridge, quilting, and spectator sports including most importantly Marquette basketball and the Packers. Although she tried her hand at golf for a few years, golfing did not make the top 100-list of her favorite past-times. (Okay, if the list was of "favorite" past-times, golfing did not make the list regardless of its length.) The family extends its gratitude to the exceptional staff of the Lawlis Family Hospice for their help this last week and to the doctors and nurses on 3N and 3S of Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Ozaukee where Mary Ann spent so much time the last few years. Visitation took place on Tuesday, January 17, from 5:00 to 7:30 PM at the Feerick Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated TODAY, Wednesday, January 18, at 10:00 AM at Three Holy Women, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 2011 N. Oakland Avenue, Milwaukee. Interment will be private for the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mary Ann's name may be made to the Child Protection Center at CHW, 619 West Walnut Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212 or a charity of your choice.