Florence Mccarthy

Florence M. McCarthy, age 92, of Kaukauna passed away peacefully at St. Paul Home in Kaukauna on Sunday, September 12, 2021. She was born on November 4, 1928 in Black Creek, WI a daughter of the late Jacob and Lorinda (Beyer) Stephani.

She was the fourth of eleven children, three of whom, Eugene Stephani, Kathleen (James) Fischer and Laverne (Ronald) Cropsey survive her. She was preceded in death by her sisters: Elvera (Richard) Maroszek, Delores (Arnold) Strauch, Joyce (Vern) Manthei, and Roselyn Mauthe; and her brothers: Ervin (Lavinia) Stephani, Lawrence (Delores) Stephani, and Jerome Stephani.

Florence was married in 1947 to Richard Merholtz with whom she had three children: William (Kim) Merholtz, Julie Merholtz, and the late Kristine (Ray) Schickling. Richard preceded her in death in 1959. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Krista (Kent) Safranski, John Merholtz, Paul (Annie) Last, and Erick Schickling; as well as by five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

In 1964 she married Edward J. McCarthy who died in 2013.

She lived in Appleton until 1977 when she and Edward relocated to Edina, MN where she resided until her return to Wisconsin in 2013. She was a resident at St. Paul's Elder Care from 2017 until the time of her death.

Following the death of her husband, Richard, and for several years thereafter, she headed up the construction company she and Richard formed and operated. She was a founding member and officer of the Fox Valley chapter of Women In Construction. In Minnesota she was a member of and held leadership positions in the Edina Federated Women's Club, the League of Catholic Women and the 1006 Summit Avenue Society which helps to preserve and refurbish the Minnesota Governors' Residence. She was a realtor in the Edina area and served in various eleemosynary organizations. She was an avid and accomplished bridge player her entire life.

Florence lived her life as she would have wished it. She enjoyed an extremely large community of friends both in Wisconsin and Minnesota. She was unfailingly energetic, eager to do what had to be done, and delighted to be alive and with her family and friends. She traveled the world many times and visited all but one continent.

She was dearly beloved and cherished by her family and friends and she will be missed very much.

Visitation for Florence will take place on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Black Creek, from 10 am until the funeral mass at 11 am with Fr. David Greskowiak officiating. Burial will take place in the parish cemetery. Muehl-Boettcher Funeral Home, Seymour, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences may be expressed to Florence's family at www.muehlboettcher.com