Mary Ann Lanser

Our beautiful mother, Mary Ann Lanser, of Port Washington, passed away peacefully into the arms of God on Feb. 19, 2023, at the age of 92. She was surrounded by the love of her three daughters and three sons.

Mary Ann was a kind, generous, and thoughtful person who always put others’ needs before her own.

Mary Ann was born on June 24, 1930, to Nicholas and Mary (nee Meyer) Depies.

She attended St. Nicholas grade school in Dacada and graduated from Random Lake High School with the Class of 1948.

On Sept. 2, 1950, she married Ambrose Lanser at St. Nicholas Church in Dacada.  They spent 32 years together dairy farming and raising their family of seven children in the Town of Port Washington.

She cherished the family trips to Disney World and the vacations to Europe, Hawaii, Arizona and California that she and Ambrose were able to share.

After Ambrose died on August 16, 1983, she moved to the City of Port Washington.

For over the next 20 years, she was active as a volunteer at St. Alphonsus Hospital as a member of the Women’s Auxiliary, at St. Peter of Alcantara Parish and as a blanket quilter for foreign missions.

She lived for her faith and family. Her grandchildren fondly recall how often she babysat or provided after-school care, the many times she baked cookies and other treats with them and how proud they were that she was a constant presence at the many First Communions, Confirmations, graduations, plays and birthday parties she so proudly attended.

When not with family or volunteering, she continued to travel throughout the United States and beyond, including making pilgrimages to Rome and the shrine of Our Lady of Medjugorje.

She was an avid reader and loved the time she spent dancing, bowling, golfing and playing cards with her many friends.

Mary Ann is survived by her children Randy (Lois) of Port Washington, Judy (Joseph) Fenzel of Mequon, Cindy (John) Preisler of Fredonia, Jerry (Carol) of Savannah, Ga., Jeffrey of Belgium and Jean (Michael) Ducheny of Grafton.

She is further survived by her 21 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

In addition to her husband Ambrose, she was preceded in death by her son Roger and daughter-in-law Chantal.

Mary Ann was the last surviving member of the Nic and Mary Depies family, which included her siblings and their spouses:  Nicholas and Luella Depies, Leroy and Mary Jane Depies, Oliver and LaVerne Depies, Grace and Fritz Rollinger, Richard and Ethel Ann Depies, Irene and Orville Ehaney and Reinhold Depies.

By marriage, she was also the last surviving member of Frank and Lillian Lanser family, which included Edmund and Alverna Lanser, Barbara and Clarence Becker, Norbert and Johanna Lanser, Angie and Fred Jacoby, Rita and Ray Lauters, Armella and Robert Lorge, Alice and Eugene Birenbaum, Geraldine and Clement Bichler, The Rev. Jerome Lanser and Sister Martha Lanser, SSSF.

Visitation for Mary Ann will be from 9 to 11:15 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, at Divine Savior Parish, Holy Cross Chapel, 5332 County Hwy. B, Belgium. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m.

She will be laid to rest beside her husband and son in Holy Cross Cemetery, Belgium, Wis.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory are suggested to  St. Jude Hospital, https://stjude.org/give.html, and Heart of Nation Catholic Ministry, www.heartofthenation.org/donate/ways-to-give.

Eernisse Funeral Home, Port Washington, is honored to serve the Lanser family.

Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.

The Lanser family wishes to thank the Harbor Club and its staff and Allay Hospice for their exceptional care and compassion.