Obituaries

MaryAnn Polcyn MaryAnn Polcyn, of Spring Green, died peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, a month before her 87th birthday. MaryAnn was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 19, 1936, the eldest of four children. She attended Loyola University in Chicago and earned her degree in Education. She was married to Bob Polcyn, and they made Chicago their home. In 1963 they began their family, adopting their first of four children. Jim was from Japan; Tom was from South Korea; and Julie and Sharon were born in Illinois, a truly international family. MaryAnn taught in the Chicago Public Schools as an elementary teacher, then took an extended break to raise their diverse family. In 1973, the family moved to Madison,  sending their children to parochial school. Two years later, the family bought some farmland near Plain. While Bob commuted to Madison for work, the family raised poultry, beef cattle, ponies, and crops. MaryAnn returned to her first love of teaching and started her long service in religious education at St. Luke’s School in Plain, teaching catechism classes. While Sharon, the youngest daughter, was still in high school, MaryAnn attended Edgewood College and earned her Master’s Degree in Religious Studies. She then donned the mantle of the Religious Director at Sacred Heart’s of Jesus and Mary School in Sun Prairie. Several years later, she moved on to a long tenure as the Religious Education Director of Sacred Heart School in Reedsburg. She was involved in every aspect of the religious training programs for the school, working with children, teachers, administration, and parents. Countless parents and teachers expressed their deep appreciation for MaryAnn on their school’s Facebook page: For years MaryAnn was instrumental in the religious education of the younger students, she oversaw first communion preparation and organized the program part of the mass. MaryAnn also coordinated the teenagers who helped with Sunday school. All the Catholic children who went to public school and were involved in religious education knew and loved MaryAnn. -DSE. God Bless you MaryAnn; you were very dedicated working with the religious program from Pre-K to High School. A wonderful, sweet lady who enjoyed all the kids very much. -MC. MaryAnn was such a kind, fun-loving, and dedicated religious education director! She impacted the lives of countless young people and teachers! Our daughter personally benefited from MaryAnn’s loving guidance, as did I, as a religious education teacher. MaryAnn – may your transition to God’s house be peaceful and swift. We love you! -JBB. Clearly, she will be missed by so many family and friends, whose lives she touched. MaryAnn was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Henry (Hank) Halverson; and her son, Tom. She leaves her sisters, Jane Lindquist and Sally (Earl) Schwarzkopf; her children, Jim (Sandy) Polcyn, Julie Polcyn, Sharon McCune; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. A visitation, prayer service and Benediction were held on Friday, March 3, 2023, at the Richardson‑Stafford Funeral Home in Spring Green. A private burial will be held in the spring at Our Lady of the Fields Shrine Cemetery. The Richardson-Stafford Funeral Home in Spring Green is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences will be available at www.staffordfuneralhomes.com