Mary L. Warwick (Blecha)

Mary L. (Blecha) Warwick, 76, of Rockford died peacefully in her home on January 19, 2023. She was born on September 21, 1946 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She grew up in both Green Bay and Oconomowoc with her loving family and friends. She graduated from Preble High School, in Green Bay and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, with a degree in French. She met her husband, James Warwick while in college at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. During their marriage, they lived in Texas, Virginia, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois. They celebrated their 55th anniversary on June 17, 2022.

Mary enjoyed playing the piano, sewing, playing cards and board games, traveling and cooking. She was always improving upon her recipes to enjoy meals with her family and friends. Her true calling was being mother to her three children. She was proud of her six grandchildren who loved her dearly. She traveled to France, China, Japan, Mexico and throughout the United States where she particularly loved visiting many National Parks. While in Japan, she was able to visit her foreign exchange daughter Fumio Yajima. Going on safari to Kenya was a life-long desire, which was fulfilled in 2009.

Mary held several positions, including a tax preparer, church secretary, and property manager. Mary was involved with the Friends of the Rock Island Library serving as secretary, where she volunteered as Newsletter Editor, as a member of American Association of University Women of St. Clair County, MI. Mary was host mother to seven Rotary Youth Exchange students from France, Thailand, Norway, Germany, Japan and Russia. Fumio Yajima of Japan wrote: “Having Mary as my host parent was one of the greatest gifts of my life.”

She was preceded in death by her daughter Katherine Rei Warwick (age 18) and her parents Edward and LaVerne (Nys) Blecha.

She is survived by her husband James F. Warwick; by her daughter Linda (Brett) Wolters and grandchildren Ashley, Abigail and Andrew of Springfield, IL; by her son Karl (Tracy) Warwick and grandchildren Reese, Delainey and Ian of Glendale, WI; brothers Michael (Marguerite) Blecha, David (Darlene) Blecha of Green Bay and Stephen (Laura) Blecha of De Pere.

Visitation at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 2040 Hillside Ln, Green Bay, WI, Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 9:30 am until the time of the funeral. Funeral Mass 11:30 am at the church with Rev. Mark P. Vander Steeg, officiating. Burial will be in Allouez Catholic Cemetery. Malcore (East) Funeral Home is serving the family.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the SPF (Spastic Paraplegia Foundation) (sp-foundation.com), 1605 Goularte Place, Fremont CA 94539-7241.