Marilyn Finn

Marilyn passed away peacefully at home on November 5, 2025, surrounded by her

daughter Kathy, son Mike, and daughter-in-law Mary. Marilyn was born May 5, 1928,

in La Crosse, to Nic and Lillian (Spika) Hengel. She attended the original (circa 1900)

St. Wenceslaus Grade School and then Aquinas High School, graduating in 1946. She

married the love of her life, Donald ("Porky") Finn on May 22, 1948, at St. Wenceslaus

Church, La Crosse. Mutz and Porky enjoyed 72 loving years together.

After graduating from high school Marilyn worked as a dental assistant for Dr. Bernard

Doyle in the Exchange Building on 5th and Jay. Later she did book-keeping for her

father with the Nic Hengel Plbg. Co. From 1950 to 1954 Marilyn worked in the

Accounting Dept. at the Trane Co.

From 1954 until 1971 Marilyn & Don raised their three children, Mike, Mary Sue and

Kathy. During those years, especially when the children were in elementary school at

Blessed Sacrament, she volunteered as room mother, hot lunch server, den mother and

assisted with Girl Scouts. She then decided to balance her parenting and home-

making with work outside the home as a receptionist and secretary to Dr. Odell J.

Anderson, who a few years later was joined by Dr. Tim Durtsche, Oral Surgeons at the

Professional Arts Bldg. She retired in December 1984.

Marilyn was a faithful member and held offices in several organizations; including the

U.S. Postal Clerk's Auxiliary, the PCCW Parish Council of Cathedral Women, the

Catholic Women's League, and the Catholic Daughters of America. She also

participated in St. Damien's Mission Club, St. Rose Partners in Prayer, the Shawl

Ministry at the Cathedral, and the fun groups of Ya,Ya's and the Senior Bunco Club in

Onalaska. After retirement she and her husband volunteered at St. Francis Medical

Center, installing Life-Lines. She served as Eucharistic Minister at Cathedral Church for

20 plus years. From 1985 until 1992, Marilyn worked as the parish coordinator for

Mobile Meals and then as a substitute, delivering meals to shut-ins. She helped with

rummage sales and funeral lunches at church when needed and sang in the adult choir

for several years.

Within her strong marriage she also strengthened her Catholic faith. Faith, husband and

family were loved unconditionally. She cared for her mom through cancer until her

death in 1993 and later gave much time to her Aunt Anna Schmikla (d. 2004), and

Uncle Ed Spika (d. 2006). The death of her daughter MarySue in 2005 was a profound

loss, which she carried with her daily, in her thoughts and prayers. Mary Sue was a

very talented and delightful daughter.

Participating in daily Holy Mass was a priority; then whatever happened that day was

okay. She loved to play cards, esp. Zioncheck, swim at the YMCA, knit prayer shawls,

bake, bake, and bake some more, read novels, watch TV thriller "24" and "Millionaire"

and later, "Wheel of Fortune". Each day she and Don solved the cryptoquip, Jumble,

crossword and Sudoku puzzles published in the La Crosse Tribune. Life was good!

A very important part of her life was her parents' (Spika family) summer cottage on the

Mississippi just south of Stoddard. She was 2 years old when it was built and 69 years

of age when they parted with it; leaving lasting memories of all their families, extended

families and a zillion friends.

During the great years that were Mutz and Porky's marriage, they enjoyed a fun social

life with parties at their cottage or the Flynn's, boating on the Mississippi or dancing,

esp. with the Continental Dance Group at the Concordia Hall, and cross- country skiing

with the gang. Their travels took them to Ireland, Hawaii (x2), St. Thomas, Alaska and

many other states, mostly to visit family or friends. A most memorable trip in 2000 was

with her daughter Kathy to Rome (seeing Pope John Paul II up close) and to

Czechoslovakia to visit Grandpa Vit's village of Branna, near Prague.

Survivors include two children: son, Michael (Mary) Finn of Peebles, OH and Kathy of

Chicago, Il. Marilyn is also survived by seven grandchildren: Patrick (Shannon)

McCain, Christina (James) Gilbert, Jeffrey Finn, Chadwick Finn, Marian Kampf,

Jonathon (Bobbie) Finn and Cory (Natalia) Ellenson and great-grandchildren: Aaron

(Savannah) Finn; Alissia (Jacob) Stone; William Davis; Jace, Weston & Amia Clark;

Blake Finn; Anthony Finn; Jordy Finn; Briston Dezelske; Emeryk and Eriah Mc Cain,

and Ariane & Alivia Page; and Greyson, Tripp & Kylee Finn. She is further survived by

great-great-grandchildren: Beckett, Soren, Marilyn, Brantley and Alex.

Marilyn is further survived by brother-in-law Gene (Phyllis) Finn of Baltimore, MD, sister-

in-law Irma (Dick, dec.) Johnson of La Crosse, WI and special friend Patricia Finn,

widow of brother-in-law Johnny Finn of Palm Harbor, FL.

She held dear many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends with special mention of Lois

& Carl (dec) Lenser, Ed & Angela (Creed) Hengel, and high-school friends Deonne and

John Flynn (dec).

Mutz was preceded in death by her devoted husband Porky, her parents Nic & Lil

Hengel, three brothers: Herbert (infant), Donald (Kay) Hengel in 1986, Robert "Nic"

(Helen) Hengel in 2010 and beloved daughter, Mary Sue in 2005.

She also held dear departed brothers-in-law and spouses, Jim & Mille Finn, Francis &

Betty Finn, Johnny Finn and sister-in-law Marie (Steve) Halerz.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am, November 17, at Blessed Sacrament

Parish, Rev. Billy Dodge officiating. Visitation will be on the day of the funeral beginning

at 9:30am at Blessed Sacrament.

Burial will be in the Catholic Cemetery Mausoleum.

Memorials may be given to Casa Hogar mission or another charity of your choice, the

Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Aquinas High

School, or Catholic Charities. A special thank you to the kind, attentive care given by the

staff at Cass Street Assisted Living (formerly Bethany on Cass) and recently the Agrace

Hospice team.

Blaschke Schneider Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.