Mary J. Korthals

Mary Julia Korthals, 98, passed away at 5:00 AM, Monday, July 1, 2025 at her apartment in the Eagle Crest South Community in La Crosse, WI.

Mary was born in Racine, WI to Thomas and Agata (Benuska) Galis on May 22, 1927. She was the youngest child born to her Slovakian parents. She attended elementary school and St. Catherine’s High School in Racine where she played center on the high school basketball team. She would lead the team to several citywide championships, an accounting of which was often relived with family members. At the age of of 18 she made the bold and fateful decision to move across the state to attend the La Crosse Teachers College and major in physical education. It was there, while participating in a modern dance class, that she caught the discerning eye of a young Air Force pilot named Harry who was also attending the school post war. They were married a short time later in Decorah, Iowa.

As her husband’s aviation career grew to encompass both military and airline obligations, Mary stayed at home to raise two “rambunctious” boys and a young daughter in the Chicago area. With Harry often away, she excelled at navigating the family through weekend commitments and holidays alone. In her spare time, she enjoyed visiting with her friends and neighbors or shopping for antiques. Occasionally, Harry’s aviation career afforded them both the opportunity to travel abroad and spend time together.

After retiring from flying, the couple purchased a farm in Stoddard and Mary’s life was transformed to that of a farm wife, a role she would later say was rather “unexpected.” However, she adapted well and for the next thirty years enjoyed a tranquil life in the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River valley.

Mary was a beautiful person both outwardly and inwardly. She dearly loved each member of her family and lived a large portion of her life vicariously through their accomplishments. In her final years, she would spend endless hours rewatching videos of her great grand children with an enormous smile on her face.

She was a true blessing to everyone fortunate enough to have known her. She will be well remembered and sorely missed by her family.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Agata, sister Helen, brothers Mike, Tony and Al, an infant daughter and her son Richard.

Mary is survived by her son Ronald (Sandi), daughter Nancy (Jim) and their two children Matthew and Laura (Kaleb), daughter-in-law Cathy and her three children Kim (Wyatt), Kris, and Tony (Kasadey) and her five great grand children Nathaniel, Nicholas, Maren, Lainey and Henry.

A private family service will be conducted at a later date officiated by Rev. Richard Pamperin of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of La Crosse. She will be laid to her eternal rest alongside her husband Harry at the St. Mathew’s cemetery in Stoddard. She is now in the presence of the Lord.

Memorial donations can be directed to Gundersen Hospice:

Gundersen Hospice

1900 South Ave.

MS-FDN-001

La Crosse, WI. 54601

The family wishes to express their gratitude to Dr. Mary Bassing for her many years of compassionate care, the Eagle Crest South Community staff and Gundersen Hospice for their valued support in her final days.