Mary Kordes
Mary Alice Kordes, age 91, passed away peacefully at McCormick Assisted Living, Allouez, Wisconsin, on May 14, 2025. She was born in West Allis, Wisconsin, to Eleanore (Bennetts) and Curtis Olsen. The family moved to the High Falls area near Crivitz, Wisconsin, in 1943, where Mary graduated from Crivitz High School in 1951.
She and her sister, Kathleen, worked in the family grocery store, Olsen’s Grocery, where she met her future husband, Richard Kordes. They were married Sept. 25, 1954, and had two children, Theodore and Kristina. They had 62 years of adventures together until Dick’s passing in 2017.
Mary and Dick built and operated Wolf Rock Motel by Landing 7 on the High Falls flowage near Crivitz, Wisconsin for eight years. They then moved to Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula in 1971 where they owned and operated The Corner Store in Ahmeek for 18 years. Once retired, they designed and built their retirement home near Ahmeek, creating a beautifully landscaped retreat complete with a substantial wildlife pond, woodland trails, and extensive flower gardens.
A childhood illness inspired Mary to adopt the motto “learn one new thing each day.” This created a curiosity in her that resulted in many interests and hobbies. As a master gardener, she loved her massive flower gardens and enjoyed entertaining and teaching many garden visitors. Her interest in family genealogy led her to lighthouse research, then onto being a founding member of the Keweenaw County Historical Society, which created several museums, including one within the picturesque Eagle Harbor Lighthouse in Eagle Harbor, where her ancestors had been keepers.
Her quest to learn new things included a fascination with all aspects of nature, from geology to plants to birds, which prompted her to become proficient in photography. Winter would find her sewing, weaving, cooking gourmet meals, writing, and then publishing her work, which was usually nature or history related. Above all, she loved spending time with family and friends.
Mary is survived by her two children, Theodore (Kathleen) of De Pere, and Kristina (Ron) Blain of Lexington, Texas; her grandchildren, Eric (Angela) Kordes of De Pere and Jonathan (Catherine) Kordes of Carthage, North Carolina; great-grandchildren, Jackson, Elizabeth, Caitlin, and Robert Kordes; and eight nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Richard; her parents; and her sister Kathleen Bacon.
Family and friends may gather at Ryan Funeral Home, 305 N. Tenth Street, De Pere, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, beginning at 10 a.m. with a service to celebrate Mary’s life at 12 p.m. with Fr. Willie Van De Loo officiating.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at McCormick Assisted Living who welcomed her into their family. We would also like to thank the staff of Unity Hospice for making Mom’s final days comfortable and peaceful. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to join us in supporting Unity Hospice, the Keweenaw County Historical Society, or the Alzheimer’s Association.