Mary Irving Jurgaitis

Profile Updated: April 6, 2019

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Residing In:

Neillsville, WI USA

Spouse/Partner:

Mark J Jurgaitis

Occupation:

teacher, homemaker, office worker, now retired

Children:

Jonathan was born in 10-1972 while we were living in Racine. He now lives in Phoenix with his wife, More…

Comments:

I graduated from UW-Whitewater in 1965 with a B.Ed in elementary education. I loved being at Whitewater. Along with all the other good things that happened there, I joined the Delta Zeta sorority and met my husband-to-be. After graduating, I taught 3rd grade at Harvey elementary in Kenosha. My husband-to-be moved to San Francisco during that year and that's where we got married (1966). We lived in San Francisco for a year. I taught 50 fifth graders in a parochial school in South San Francisco. In 1967 we decided to move back to Wisconsin. (YUP, I left my heart in San Francisco – even though we now know that it was best we didn't stay there.) I taught at Jefferson elementary in Kenosha for 1 year, then took a year off of teaching. I went back and taught at Somers elementary for the next three years. I loved it there. During that time my husband got his bachelor's degree from UW-Parkside and son #1 was born. After graduating, he decided he wanted to get his masters and was accepted at UW-Whitewater. Because of my experience as an RA during my undergrad years, I was hired as a Hall Director for the 2 years my husband was going to school (son #2). Then we spent some time waiting for a job (son #3).
A job offer took us to Madison where we lived for 2+ years (daughter #1). Then a job offer took us to Batavia, Illinois for a few years (daughter #2 and last child, son #4) and a move into our first house in St. Charles, Illinois. My husband started his own business while in Batavia. I was a stay-at-home mom from the birth of our first child until our last, and 6th child, started 1st grade. I did not want to go back to teaching and just by luck got an office job with the Girl Scout Council out of Aurora, Illinois. This is where I learned my computer skills.
In 1993 we decided to go looking for a little business to run somewhere. That search took us to Neillsville, Wisconsin (up nort to a lot of people – yes that is the correct spelling). It is beautiful here among the forests of Clark County. We've lived here for 16 years. During that time I've had various & sundry office jobs. I am currently working the front desk of the our small hospital/emergency room here in Neillsville from 10pm – 6am four nights a week. I have had this job for 7 years. It has been wonderful for me. Many of the departments found that I had some valuable computer skills. I love the variety of work they give me to do while I sit overnight waiting for anyone to come into the emergency room and doing the mundane tasks of alphabetizing daily paper work and filing. I am still working because it feeds my habit of wanting to visit my grandchildren (oh, and my children, too.)
And I'm a Mormon. My husband and I became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1971 while we were living in Racine. It has brought great joy to our lives. We are both very active in the church. I have served in many leadership positions for the children, the young women, the adult women and Cub Scouts. I have been a teacher for every age group. Currently I am responsible for public relations involving eight units of the church within a 100 mile radius of Wausau, Wisconsin. Keeps us very busy and we love it.
Life has been good!

UPDATE as of July 9, 2012: forgot it was even my birthday until people started wishing me Happy Birthday. I was so wrapped up in my 30-year old son having had a heart valve replaced on June 29 and my daughter, Sarah, getting married on July 7. (Last of my 6 children to get married.)

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School Story:

I remember: helping out with a school play; being involved in campaigning for the homecoming queen (who else but Suzette?); the Friday night basketball games (it was just as much fun being with friends, stomping our feet, clapping and cheering as it was watching our “favorite” player); the football games at Lake Front Stadium (bundling up and feeling autumn in the air); having to change clothes in front of e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e after swim class; the daily bus ride to and from school from out on 39th Avenue (and the friends I made on the bus); being able to go downtown during lunch; walking back & forth between the annex and the school building (and wondering if I'd ever be brave enough to go down the tube-never did); having a good circle of friends and only having to go to Mr. Stoker's office once (and that was for some uneventful thing). I'm grateful for it all!

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