Mary A. Hess

Our Dear Lord and Savior, we thank you for blessing our family with Mary A. Hess, a soft-spoken, beautiful, prayerful and gifted human being.

Mary Hess (nee: Pankratz), age 81, passed away on Monday, September 1, 2025. She was born December 3,1943 in Howell, Michigan to William J. and Mary J. (nee: Herbrand) Pankratz. Mary was a graduate of Catholic Memorial High School, Class of 1962, and attended WCTC for medical transcription. She then attended a Practical Nurses Program in Madison, WI for 1 year. When Mary returned to Waukesha Memorial Hospital, she was a secretary in the radiology department. Shortly, after she took an opening in the medical record department as a transcriptionist for the rest of her 45 year career, retiring in 2008.

Mary was a free spirit, she loved biking, taking exercise classes at Waukesha Park & Rec, reading, sudoku, puzzles, crocheting and dancing. She was a proud member of the Wisconsin Polka Boosters Club, where she served on the board of directors. Mary was a wonderful dancer and the “star of the show” and won a 2nd place trophy with her husband, Fred at the state polka festival at the Zielinski’s Ballroom in Pulaski, WI. Mary and Fred also won a 3rd place trophy at the Midwest Regional Championships at the Olympia Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. On May 1,1971 she married Fredrick “Fred” Hess and together they raised three children.

She will be missed by her devoted husband of 54 years, Fred Hess, and loving children, Rachel R. Hess, Heidi M. Hess and Benjamin J. Hess and two special grandchildren Braeden Hess and Annabelle Hess. She is further survived by her dear sisters Phyllis (Dr. Conrad) Andringa and Chris (Gary) Meyer, other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Patricia Stewart.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at Randle-Dable Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Ave from 10:00 AM until the 12 (noon) memorial service. Private burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Fred and the Mary Hess family wishes a special thank you for all the love and support shown from our friends, relatives, neighbors, staff at Waukesha Memorial Hospital and Cathy Brisk and staff at Randle-Dable Brisk Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mary’s name are appreciated to the Wisconsin Polka Boosters.