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Mary Kae Waytenick Obituary
January 4, 1949 - November 5, 2024
Mary Kae Waytenick, 75, passed away on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at home in Rock Island.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at Church of Peace United Church of Christ, Rock Island. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island. Burial will be in Reynolds Cemetery, Reynolds, Ill. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Church of Peace, Rock Island or Quad City Symphony Orchestra youth programs.
Mary Kae was born January 4, 1949, in Moline, to Ruth and Harold Sederquist. She married Paul Waytenick on October 12, 1974, at the Church of Peace in Rock Island.
She received a B.M.E. from Augustana College and Master's degree in organ performance and musicology from Indiana University. She was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity.
Mary Kae was a talented musician, director, composer, and educator. She was the organist and Director of Music at Church of Peace for over 40 years, directing the chancel, children's, and bell choirs in that time and arranging many songs, writing skits, and planning worship services. She directed Quad City Flutes Unlimited, taught piano lessons, and accompanied many other performances in the community. She also served as the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Education Director for a time and was president of Volunteers for Symphony, helping to publish their two cookbooks. She was a music teacher at Alleman, Sherrard, and Rockridge School Districts in her career teaching band and choir, and inspiring many students and their love of music.
She rarely sat still. She had a huge garden in the summer, started the Rockridge Royals 4-H club, played bridge, was an excellent baker, planned parties with friends, traveled on family vacations, and loved living and raising her family in her grandparents' farm house. Mary Kae was so loved by Paul, Jessica, Aaron, her family and friends.
Survivors include her husband, Paul; children, Jessica Waytenick and Aaron (Tracy) Waytenick, Milan; grandchildren, Olivia and Adeline; brothers, Thom (Gail) Sederquist, Orion and Rick (Gail) Sederquist, Taylor Ridge; nephews, Jim (Katie Casey) Sederquist, David (Callie) Sederquist, Andrew (Callen) Sederquist, Michael (Benjamin Rogers) Sederquist, Almond (Danielle) Zenaida, Ainon Zenaida and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Condolences may be left for the family online at www.wheelanpressly.com.
Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory
3030 7th Ave
Rock Island, IL
309-786-5421
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Mary Kae Waytenick
Sponsored by Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home - Rock Island.
4 Entries
Jeanene Rippel
November 11, 2024
So sorry for your loss. Mary Kae was an awesome, patient and kind piano teacher. I learned so much from her. I´ll always remember being one of her students. May the peace of the Lord be with you all. God bless, Jeanene (Donner) Rippel.
Darrel & Linda Muhleman
November 9, 2024
Our thoughts & prayers are with Paul, Jessica, & Aarron and the rest of the family. We are all blessed to have known such a delightful girl & will cherish memories of the "wallpaper removal party" at the farmhouse forever.
Doerle & Heather Rowley
November 9, 2024
Mary Kae was a woman of quiet strength, driven to do good for others without seeking recognition. Selfless in her giving, she inspired those around her with her resilience and deep faith, which helped her face life's many challenges. Her music was a gift, bringing joy and comfort to others. Together, we raised our daughters, sharing the highs and lows of parenthood, and through it all, she taught me to embrace gratitude and avoid complaints. Let us honor her memory by persevering through life's trials with unwavering faith, turning adversity into something positive, and embodying her example of resilience and grace.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Doerle & Heather Rowley
Barry and Jennifer Gill
November 9, 2024
Paul and Family, we are so sorry about Mary Kay. Such a sweet lady and huge loss.
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Visitation
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home - Rock Island3030 - 7th Ave, Rock Island, IL 61201
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Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home - Rock Island3030 - 7th Ave, Rock Island, IL 61201
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