Mary Irene Stemkoski

Mary Irene Stemkoski was born July 11, 1926, in the tiny northwestern Ohio town of Tipton. She passed away peacefully at home in the presence of family and friends on October 5, 2022, at the age of 96.

As a young girl, Mary’s work ethic was established early through farm chores. In 1939 as the middle child of the Goddard family, Mary packed into a Model A Ford with her parents and siblings for the long trek to California.

At 13 years of age Mary became a Californian and never looked back. Mary absolutely loved California – especially her adopted hometown of Visalia, which she regularly called “God’s country.”

Once settled in the San Joaquin Valley, Mary attended Delta View School, Hanford High, and Visalia Union High School, where she excelled in all manner of sports…softball, volleyball and basketball among them. She was known as a “spitfire”… playing all out, fiercely competitive, holding nothing in reserve.

True to her roots, Mary was also a very hard worker. Picking cotton and fruit, slinging hash and hamburgers, and hand-packing pimento olives in “Alka Seltzer” jars at Visalia’s olive plant were all targets of her labor. She possessed boundless energy and wasn’t at all afraid to get her hands dirty.

Upon graduation from high school, Mary was dreaming dreams of her future. Cosmetology school was in her plan, but apparently not God’s. With America at war, she and her friends regularly attended the USO dances at Visalia’s Sequoia Field and enjoyed the rapt attention of numerous young servicemen. It was there that she caught the eye of one particularly charming Polish radarman from nearby Camp Pinedale who eventually won her heart. After some months, with borrowed bus fare and a 72-hour pass, the two lovebirds ran off to Las Vegas in January, 1946, to tie the knot — quite tightly, as it turned out. Mary and Toney Stemkoski celebrated 65 years of marriage prior to Toney’s passing in 2011.

Mary Stemkoski was active in community service her entire adult life through her involvement with the Emblem Club, Optimist Club, Catholic Daughters, sorority, serving as a “pink lady” volunteer at Kaweah Delta Hospital, and St. Mary Catholic Church. For nearly 20 years she served as the treasurer and “organizer extraordinaire” of the Visalia Dancing Club. Club president, Susan Mangini, said “Our club was struggling. Mary energized our membership and restored us to a strong, vibrant, and financially solvent position. We likely wouldn’t have survived without her.”

Mary enjoyed her latter years, dividing her time between volunteering with Celebrant Singers and her lifetime loves of dancing, bridge and especially, golf. She could often be found enjoying a round with her many friends at the Visalia Country Club, where she actively played into her 90s. However, it was no secret to anyone that her favorite links partner was her beloved husband, Toney, with whom she shared countless memorable rounds and tournaments, both at home and around the country. Recently, during the club’s Centennial Celebration, Mary was recognized as the only active member with a tenure of more than 60 years.

Mary is survived by her daughter, April Kesterson (husband, Ed.); son, Jon; two grandchildren, Chelsea Herman (husband, Ben) and Shannon ReNee; and three great- grandchildren, Grayson, Graham and Jackson Herman; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, all of which she loved and cherished.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 19, at Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 W. Goshen Ave., in Visalia, with a reception immediately following at the Visalia Country Club. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Celebrant Singers, 420 North Dudley Street, Visalia, CA 93291.

Mary Stemkoski, beloved wife, outstanding and devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, fought the good fight and had a beautiful and fruitful life. You are now, and forever will be, missed by all who had the privilege of sharing life with you.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.millerchapel.com for the Stemkoski family.