Mary Frances Kreinbring

Mary Frances Kreinbring

(Nee Blum)

With deep love and heavy hearts, the family of Mary Frances Kreinbring (Blum) wants to share that she peacefully passed away on the evening of November 5th. Mary was born on January 18th,1946 in Eau Claire, WI. She was born to Francis and Madeline (Miller) Blum and was the only girl born along with five brothers: Mike, Joe, Tom, Rick and John. Mary was preceded in death by her parents and all five of her siblings.

Besides Eau Claire, Mary lived in Mondovi, WI for a short time, before her family settled in Milwaukee (Bayview) WI. The family's house was next to the Seminary woods, a block away from Thomas More HS. Her and her five brothers grew up playing in the seminary woods. In her youth she attended a Catholic grade school as her father had changed his faith to become a devout Catholic. After grade school, she attended Bay View High School where Mary was an ambitious student. In athletics she enjoyed Archery, Softball, Volleyball. Swimming, Life Saving and she was a lifeguard. She joined the Future Nurses Club, Red Cross, Philosophy, History and Science. She also joined student government where she was a study hall monitor and a building control usher. She graduated in 1964.

After high school, Mary was applying for a job with the FBI and was submitting an application to attend UW Whitewater. During this time, she met and married Ken Kreinbring, and together they raised 2 daughters: Katheryn of New Berlin, Wisconsin and Kristine of Valrico, Florida. Initially, Mary was a stay-at-home mother and while living down south with Ken, she started gardening which became a life-long passion. She was also a self-taught seamstress, and JoAnn Fabrics regularly displayed her works on the in-store manikins. She was quite proud of her sewing skills and enjoyed making outfits for her two daughters.

Next, Mary turned towards health care and worked in the old family hospital as a patient billing specialist. Her position was located in the 3rd floor lab, surrounded by medical specimens. She joined the hospital's softball team and was their first base player for years. During this time, Mary enjoyed her many friendships and these were her "disco" and "Peter Frampton" years. Still aligning herself with the medical field, Mary became a medical transcriptionist. She was proud of the huge medical vocabulary and knowledge she gained. Mary purchased her first home in Bayview, and enmeshed herself back into gardening. She started a small landscaping business and wrote half of a book on gardening. When Mary's last sibling had passed away, she moved back to her childhood home, next to the woods.

Mary enjoyed traveling, and in addition to visiting many US states, she did get to see Germany, Austria, Italy and Hawaii. Mary was a lifelong learner of life and the ever curious intellectual. She enjoyed reading all types of books, PBS and was actively informed on daily news and politics, which she was an excellent conversationalist on many topics. She enjoyed watching the wonder of Ancient Aliens, and survival show such as Naked and Afraid and Mountain Men. But more than anything, Mary was the listening ear and supporter of her daughters, always being their support and cheerleader. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her family and grandchildren. She was affectionally known as Grandma Mary.

We have all been blessed by her unending love, her smile, her kindness and her unique sense of humor and her intellectual curiosity with life. Mary taught us many lessons in life that we will never forget. One thing she always spoke of was love and forgiveness. We all miss her more than words can say.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents Frances and Madeline Blum (Miller), by her beloved siblings Mike Blum, Joseph Blum, Tom Blum, Rick Blum and John Blum.

Mary is survived by her beloved children, Katheryn Bruhn (Kreinbring) and Kristine Dorfner (Kreinbring). Mary's surviving grandchildren are Jennifer Wenthur (Bruhn), Zachary Tomaich, and Kenneth Dorfner. Surviving great grandchildren are Madeline Morand, Emilia Tomaich, Emory Tomaich, Rexton Wenthur, Bennett Wenthur.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 17th, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM with funeral service to follow at CHURCH AND CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME, 380 Bluemound Rd., Waukesha, Wisconsin, 53188.

Burial services will begin later at 3:00 pm at the Wisconsin Memorial Park: 13235 W. Capitol Dr., Brookfield, Waukesha, WI 53005. Meeting in the green area in the front of the cemetery.

Church & Chapel Funeral Service Serving the Family

Milw. 262-827-0659 Wauk. 262-549-0659

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