Mary Ann Boer

Mary Ann Boer Obituary (1965-2024)

Mary Ann Boer, age 58, passed away in Milwaukee, WI on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024, after a brave and fearless battle with stage four cancer. She was surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor her legacy. Mary was born on March 13th, 1965, in Appleton, WI, and grew up in the nearby village of Little Chute, WI in a large and loving family. She was the proud daughter of the late Jacobus Wilhelm Boer (1924-1993) and Catherina Theresia Boer (nee Hermes)

(1928-1986).

A driven, ambitious, and hardworking individual throughout her life, Mary graduated from Little Chute High School in 1983 and briefly attended college later in adulthood where she continued her love and talent for creative writing. Raising her children in Appleton, Mary was a planner for NewPage in Kimberly, WI, and later SCA/Essity in Neenah, WI. Mary was most proud to be a mother always worrying, rooting for, protecting, and loving them until the end. After her diagnosis and in her last months of life, she continued to remain fiercely dedicated to her children, profession, and in her will to fight her diagnosis.

Mary was known for her strong, independent will, doing anything she set her mind to. Mary will always be remembered by her tremendous sense of humor, lighting up any room she walked into. Her optimism, generosity, and kindness affected everybody that interacted with her. She had an uncanny ability to find joy and happiness in every aspect of life, big or small. In her free time, Mary enjoyed traveling, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, being outdoors, volunteering for the ALS Association, tending to her various plants, listening to her vinyl records, specifically The Beatles and Joni Mitchell, and never letting the squirrels or the neighborhood cat, Manny, go hungry. She loved the time she spent with family, friends, and neighbors.

Mary loved her entire family. She is survived by her loving children, Mercedes (Sadie) Voet (partner Remko Leeneman), Quinlan (Quin) Voet, and Sof Voet (partner Matthew Hansen); her siblings, Rene, wife Judith (Judy); Andrew (Chuck), wife Martha (Marty); Francis (Frank); Anita, husband Edward (Ed); and Diane, husband Dave. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews Allison, Erin, Trevor, Jacob, Lauren, Caroline, Eddie, Angela, Janelle, Samantha, Ryan, Brooklyn, and many other relatives and friends. She will forever be missed by her family, friends, and coworkers.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate if you would instead make a contribution to the ALS Association in Mary’s name, specifically the ALS Association – Wisconsin Chapter (donate.wi.als.org/alsawi), where Mary was a longstanding and committed volunteer. When you mark the checkbox under the donation amount options that says, “Dedicate my donation in honor or in memory of someone,” it will open up a section where you can write in Mary’s name.