Mary C. Cupery

PORTAGE – Mary C. Cupery, age 79, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at her home in Fort Winnebago Township. 

Mary was born on November 6, 1938 in Portage, the daughter of Benjamin and Helen (Wilcox) Balliet, Jr.  She graduated from Portage High School and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  She married Clark Cupery on July 1, 1961 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Portage.  Mary taught kindergarten in Fox Point and Bayside, and later was a substitute teacher in the Pardeeville and Portage school systems.  Together with her husband she owned and operated Balliet & Cupery, Pardee Cap, and Clark’s Speedway Café.  She was Clerk of Fort Winnebago Township, and a vice chair of the Columbia County Board, serving on many committees.  Mary was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Choir, was a Sunday school music teacher, and a member of many church committees.  She was a member of the Zona Gale Singers, the Wauona Women’s Club and the Fort Winnebago Homemakers Club.  Mary loved traveling, gardening, cooking, and baking and enjoyed playing the piano.            

She is survived by her husband, Clark Cupery of Portage; her children, Mark (Sheri) Cupery, of Montello and Marcia (Richard) Schulman, of Atlanta, Georgia; her grandchildren, Amber Cupery of Montello and Jayde (Jessica) Cupery of Castle Rock; her great-grandchildren, Kobe, Sybastian, Chrystian and Prestin;  her brother, Robert (Jean) Balliet, of Green Bay, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her aunt, Dorothy Balliet.    

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, W8267 Highway 33E, Portage with Chaplain Dan Pulsfus officiating.  Burial will follow in Pardeeville Cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Friday, June 22, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage (www.pmmfh.com) and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the church.     

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.