Mary Kuchenbecker, 72, of Houston, Tx

Mary Rita Kuchenbecker went to meet the Lord on September 23, 2024. Her brother Mark

was present to see her off. After successfully battling cancer last year, Mary was on the

path to recovery but faced challenges after breaking her hip twice this year.

Born on February 14, 1952, in Medford, WI, Mary was the eldest of 10 children born to

William and Rita Kuchenbecker. She was followed by six brothers and three sisters. After

graduating from Neillsville High School in Neillsville, WI, Mary earned a bachelor’s degree

in special education from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh. She began her teaching

career in Harlingen, Texas in 1978 and later moved to Houston, where she continued to

teach until her retirement.

Mary was passionate about social and environmental causes and was never hesitant to

speak out against waste and injustice. She loved nature and cherished the many trips she

made with her brothers to the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. Mary was a

dedicated volunteer at the Wildlife Center of Texas in Houston, where she cared for

orphaned or injured wild animals, often providing round-the-clock care to baby possums,

raccoons and squirrels. She was also a devoted dog lover, rescuing her beloved pets from

local shelters. Mary will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Mary is preceded in death by her father William Fred Kuchenbecker; her brother Michael

Ray Kuchenbecker; her sister, Carol Lynn Kuchenbecker; her ex-husband, Milton (Mike)

Leonard Erdmann and her stepson Michael Leonard Erdmann.

She is survived by her mother, Rita Marie Kuchenbecker of Neillsville, WI; five brothers:

Mark Kuchenbecker of Rosenberg, TX; Kent Kuchenbecker of Winter Springs, Fl; James

Kuchenbecker of Phelps, WI; Robert Kuchenbecker of Winter, WI; and Bill Kuchenbecker of

Verona, WI. She is also survived by two sisters, Nancy Foemmel of Waterloo, IA, and Karen

Urrutia of Aurora, IL.

Other survivors include in-laws: Karen (Gross) Kuchenbecker, Lynn (Pierce) Kuchenbecker,

Veronica (Olson) Kuchenbecker, Patricia (Barritt) Kuchenbecker, Sheila (David)

Kuchenbecker, Loren Foemmel, and Ray Urrutia. She is also survived by her stepdaughters:

Michella Erdmann, Melissa Rollmann and Marjorie Slack, and 30 beloved nieces and

nephews, including her godson, Richard A. Kuchenbecker.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wildlife Center of Texas, 7007 Old Katy Rd,

Houston 77024. URL: Wildlife Center of Texas - Houston SPCA

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