Tuesday, December 25, 2018
To the Family of Mary Rusch Wendlandt:
None of you know me--(I'm Eloise Weber Bienvenu)-- but I grew up with Mary on Martin Street in Campbellsport, WI. She was an "across the street" neighbor. We were all part of what at that time was called "Stork Avenue" because there were so many children on the street. I was a member of the Weber family along with the Hoffmann's, Baumhardt's, Steinacker's, and a couple more families who didn't have young children. We had lots of fun in those days--playing games in the evenings in the summer until the streetlights went on.
Ruth Hoffmann and I were best friends, and we used to go to visit Mary's mother when we came home on weekends from Milwaukee. She was a delightful woman, and Mary's picture reminds me very much of "Katie."
I hadn't known how talented Mary was and how much she was involved with her community and church because I moved to California and didn't get back to Wisconsin very often.
When I read her obituary in The Campbellsport News, I just had to send my condolences to the family of such an old-time friend. Of all the kids who grew up on Martin Street, now there are only two of us left--Ruth Hoffmann Hayward and me. We are one year older than Mary--94.
Again, my sincere sympathy on the death of your mother, my friend, Mary.
Eloise Weber Bienvenu
West Covina,CA 91791
(920) 397-5579 
