August 6, 2010 The Kansas Barbed Wire Museum lost a beloved friend this week. Mary Herman, museum manager, passed away on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 after a brief illness. Mary was well-respected among the community, the museum staff, and the collectors and patrons who knew her. She was a dedicated worker who often went above and beyond the call of duty to create a pleasant experience for museum visitors. She often commented how she looked forward to seeing the wire collectors who make the trek to La Crosse each year at the spring show and fall symposium. Many of them were like family to her. We will miss her energy and her friendly smile.
Mary D. Herman, 81, La Crosse, formerly of Colorado Springs, Colo., died Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita. She was born June 28, 1929, in Rush County, to Peter and Pauline (Stecklein) Schaffer. She was a 1947 graduate of La Crosse High School. She married Marvin "Merf" Urban on Dec. 1, 1948. He preceded her in death Jan. 26, 1969. She later married Dennis Herman on Dec. 15, 1973. He preceded her in death April 9, 1991. She was a retail clerk, prior to retirement. Survivors include a son, Ronald L. "Mac" Urban and wife, Donna, La Crosse; four sisters, Esther Schuckman, Bertha Oliverius, and Vernita Serpan, all of La Crosse and Jenny Pozalek, Russell; two grandchildren, Stefanie Parrott and husband, Greg, Rush Center and Ryan Urban, La Crosse; two great-grandchildren, Ashley Parrott and Avery Parrot; and her special friend, Melvin Phillips, Nekoma. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Bott on Aug. 30, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael's Catholic Church, La Crosse; burial in La Crosse City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, with family present from 6 to 7 p.m. at Janousek Funeral Home, La Crosse. A vigil/rosary will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Barbed Wire Museum, La Crosse, in care of the funeral home.