Mary Karlen

F, b. 17 August 1951, d. 24 April 1998
     Mary Karlen was born on 17 August 1951 at Stevens Point, Portage Co, WI. She was the daughter of Edwin Karlen and Jeanette Lutz. Mary Karlen married Daniel J. Petersen on 27 December 1976 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Stevens Point, Portage Co, WI. Mary Karlen died on 24 April 1998 at Waukesha, Waukesha Co, WI, at age 46.

Article published in the Saturday, April 25, 1998 issue of the Stevens Point Daily Journal, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Actual date of death: Friday, April 24, 1998.

Mary Karlen Petersen

Mary Karlen Petersen, 46, 3016 Minot Lane, Waukesha, formerly of Stevens Point, passed away Friday, April 24, 1998, at Mount Carmel Health & Rehabilitation Center, Milwaukee, following surgery at Froedtert Memorial Hospital, Wauwastosa, for removal of a brain tumor.

A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St William Catholic Church, Waukesha. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Cesarz & Zinnecker Funeral Directors, 237 N. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Waukesha.

Mary was born Aug. 17, 1951, in Stevens Point, a daughter of Edwin and Jeanette (Lutz) Karlen, 1040 Ridge Road. She attended St. Stephen Grade School and graduated from Maria High School in 1969. She continued her education at the University of Wisconsin Madison, where she graduated with honors, majoring in music education. Subsequently, she completed graduate work at the University of Toronto specializing in Orff-Schulwerk principles of music instruction.

She began her teaching career in music with Oconomowoc School system following graduation. She continued her employment in Oconomowoc until 1989 when she joined the faculty at University Lake School, Hartland until the time of her surgery.

Mary was co-founder if the Greater Milwaukee Orff-Schulwerk Association and served as its president for a number of years. She was a noted clinician for this organization at the national level, as well.

She also served as co-chairman of the Education Council for Milwaukee Symphony and was an active participant with the Wisconsin Music Educators Conference from 1972 to the present. She has been a member of Alpha Delta Kappa since 1978.

She married Daniel J. Petersen at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Stevens Point on Dec. 27, 1976. He survives at the family home in Waukesha along with two daughters, Anna, 13 and Emily 8.

Additionally, she is survived by her parents in Stevens Point; two brothers, Paul (Candy), Brookfield, and Thomas, Stevens Point, and two sisters, Nancy Karlen Orofino, Idaho and Joan (Jack Hurrish) Karlen, Stevens Point.

She was preceded in death by an infant brother. She is further survived by her parents-in-law, James and Mary Petersen, Racine.

Memorials in Mary’s name are being established at St. William Catholic church, Waukesha, and the American Cancer Society.

Children of Mary Karlen and Daniel J. Petersen

  • Anna Petersen b. 1985
  • Emily Petersen b. 1990