Maryann Christina Behling passed away in her home with her loving family at her side on Monday, February 2, 2015 following her second battle with cancer. In 1992 she courageously fought ovarian cancer and 22 years later she was overcome by pancreatic cancer.

Born on September 16, 1936 in Kenosha, she was the daughter of the late Paul J. and Mary C. (Ladvienka) Blahuta, Jr. She was a 1954 graduate from Mary D. Bradford High School.

In 1957, she was united in marriage to Rudolph S. Miller. They were blessed with four children, Mary, Steven, Laura and Rudolph. Their marriage was later dissolved. On July 30, 1970 in Waukegan, IL she was united in marriage to Korean War Veteran, Lawrence G. Behling. They welcomed two children, Bradley and Christine. Sadly, after 43 years of marriage, he preceded her in death in February, 2014.

In 1977, Maryann began employment with K-Mart Corporation. She was a valued employee and was familiar with each department. Maryann retired in 2004 as their One-Hour Photo Department supervisor. Prior to K-Mart, she was employed with Swann Laundry, Wisconsin Bell as a switchboard operator, devoted homemaker and talented artist.

Maryann was a gifted crossword, Cryptoquip and intricate puzzle solver who enjoyed watching Ancient Aliens. She enjoyed playing bingo with her special friends at Roma Lodge in Racine, traveling to Las Vegas and Arizona to visit family, gambling and site-seeing. Maryann was a fabulous cook and baker. Of all of her recipes, she will be remembered for her cookies and coffee cake.

Maryann was a wonderful, thoughtful daughter, wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, grandma, aunt, Godmother and friend to so many. She truly treasured the time she spent with her family and friends.

Maryann’s bright, shining, loving personality will live forever in the hearts of her five children, Mary (Stanley) Wilde of Necedah, Steven (Pamela) Miller of Lake Geneva, Rudolph Miller of Kenosha, Bradley (Laura) Behling of Kenosha and Christine (Michael) Gustaveson of Egg Harbor; her sister, Dianne (Anthony) Infusino, Sr. of Bristol; her two sisters-in-law, Nancy Conwell of Kenosha and Joan Behling of Racine; and three step-children, Elizabeth (Edward) Rash of Racine, Peggy Behling of Frankfurt, Germany and Lawrence Behling of Racine.

She is further survived by her 15 grandchildren, Andrea, Alexander, Shayla, Heather (Dan), Joseph, Stephanie, Danielle (Connor), Serena, Marissa, Arielle, Katherine, Lillian (Eric), Rianna, Rachel, and Vaughn; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Lawrence, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Laura D. Vargas; and her former husband, Rudolph Miller.

Maryann’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Reverend David Rockoff of Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church. They would also like to acknowledge the kindness and efforts of Heartland Hospice and all their volunteers, Dr. Syed Haider, Lora Carpenter, RN, Aurora Vince Lombardi Cancer Center and all the nurses that continually made her comfortable and put up with her family and made her smile.

Service Info

A visitation for Maryann will be held at Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home, 3720 39th Avenue on Saturday, February 14, 2015 from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. Private interment will take place in Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Union Grove.