Mary G. ‘Mitz” Bartzen, 92, of Pine Haven in Sheboygan Falls, died on Monday, September 2, 2019 at
Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice following a sudden illness. She was born November 28, 1926
in Sheboygan to Valentine and Agnes (Starich) Skrube. Mitz graduated from Central High School, then
furthered her education and graduated from St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing in Springfield, IL.
On May 1, 1954 she was united in marriage to Robert C. “Bob” Bartzen at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Catholic
Church in Sheboygan. Bob preceded her in death on May 2, 2018, after celebrating 64 years of marriage.
Mitz was an RN at St. Nicholas Hospital in the surgical department until her retirement in 1991.
Having a strong faith, Mitz was an active member of Ss. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church. She served
as secretary of the women’s group. When her children were young, she volunteered in the school
library, hot lunch program, and taught CCD classes. Mitz was also a member of the Slovenian Women’s
Union. She enjoyed playing bridge and was in a bridge club with several other nurses.
Family was the most important thing in Mitz’s life. The family enjoyed an annual summer vacation for
two weeks in a cottage along with her brother and his family at Crooked Lake. The memories that were
created there prompted her to purchase a trailer at that lake after her children were grown. During the
28 years she owned it, the ‘Golden Girls’ enjoyed many summers together. She said it was a little piece
of heaven on earth. Mitz knew how to make every child, grandchild and great grandchild feel
important, special and unique. They were her pride and joy. She could always be found on the floor
playing with the grandkids and great grandkids.
To her family Mitz was known as the Jiffy Cake Queen; she had many boxes, but never baked even one.
She was also an avid sports fan, always cheering on her Wisconsin teams, Packers, Brewers, and
Badgers; even in her later years, she always kept up with the scores. Mitz had a love for knowledge; she
was always learning how things worked. Her curiosity lead her to teach herself how to use a tablet when
she was in her 80’s, and she got very good at googling.
Mitz is survived by her children; Mary Jo (Michael) Sutton, Robert P. (Jody) Bartzen, Carol (Tim) Stielow,
and TJ (Sandy) Bartzen; by her nine grandchildren Aaron (Dana) Kolste, Alison (Jason) Koenig, Amy (Josh)
Arthur, Kelly (Steve) Ogden, Jeff Bartzen, John (Leah) Bartzen, Jennifer and Jaclyn Stielow, and Michelle
Bartzen; by her fourteen great-grandchildren and her sister Daniella (Ralph) Dottai, and sister-in-law
Carol Skrube. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded
in death by her parents, husband Bob, sisters: Agnes Hoffman, Julie Glaeser, and Marcella Gehl, and
brother Valentine Skrube.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, September 20, 2019 at 4:00 PM at Ss. Cyril & Methodius
Catholic Church, 822 New Jersey Ave., Sheboygan, with Rev. Paul Fliss officiating. Relatives and friends
may visit with the family on Friday, September 20, 2019 from 1:00 PM until the time of mass at the
CHURCH. Private inurnment will take place at Greendale Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Ss. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, Pine Haven Christian
Home, or Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice in Mitz’s name.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Pine Haven Christian Home, Sharon S.
Richardson Community Hospice, and Dr. Pawlak and Dr. Horth for their compassionate care.
Please visit our website to leave your condolences for the family www.zimmerfuneralhome.com
