Mary Elizabeth Elzea

Mary Elizabeth (Wiesendanger) Elzea, age 102, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at Medicalodges Eudora. Mary was born July 17, 1921, in Manhattan, Kansas, the daughter of J.J. and Marie E. Peterson Wiesendanger. Her family moved from Randolph, Kansas to Salina, Kansas when she was 5 years old. She attended Salina schools, graduating from Salina High School in 1940. She later attended Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina.

Mary married Bill Elzea on January 19, 1943 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. They were married for 64 years until he passed away on March 18, 2007. Survivors include a son, Mark and wife Susan, Lawrence; three grandsons, Eric, Evan and Patrick and wife Amy; a great-grandson, Oscar; a special grandniece, Abby Coble; one brother, James H. Wiesendanger, Salina and seven nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by a son, Michael, in April 1993, and a sister, Emma, in February 2018.

Mary worked at JC Penny’s in Salina and Laramie, WY, Western Union in Salina and Denver, CO, at Harry S. Manchester Department Store in Madison, WI, and as bookkeeper for the Smoky Hill Army Air Field Officer’s Club in Salina.

She was a tireless community volunteer, serving on the Lawrence Red Cross board for nine years and helping in the city and KU blood drives, as well as joyfully serving in many volunteer capacities at Haskell, Watkins Museum, Lawrence Memorial Hospital and Trinity Lutheran Church, including as librarian, for many years. Mary also volunteered in the Douglas County Master Gardener program for many years and delivered meals for Meals on Wheels. She was an active volunteer in Lawrence schools, both in classrooms and in school libraries, and was a Cub Scout Den Mother during the period from the mid 1950’s through the early 1970’s.

Mary belonged to the former Ingleside Club, Trinity Lutheran Church groups and the special Phenix Club.

The family suggests memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church Library, sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary. A graveside service will be held at a later date.