Mary Guns

Mary Beth (Vanden Elzen) Guns, De Pere, passed away peacefully on September 14th, 2021. Mary was born to Theresa (Ver Haagh) Vanden Elzen and the late Orville Vanden Elzen on January 4th, 1965.  She grew up in De Pere and was one of 9 children.  Mary graduated from De Pere High School in 1982.  On May 15th, 1987, she married her high school sweetheart, Tom Guns, at St. Mary Church-Glenmore. Together they built a fun filled life with their four amazing children: Justin, Jake, Leah, and Mason.  She loved being a grandmother and spending time with her grandsons, Myles and Brooks. She never missed a chance to tell them “Love you to pieces!”.
Mary was well known for her crafting, baking, and yukka making.  Mary loved camping in the “Dolphin” and traveling with friends and family. Some of her favorite times were Hodag, and Widows Weekend. She spent many hours cooking in her dream kitchen or card playing with an ice-cold beverage in her bedazzled yeti.
Mary will be forever missed for her baked goods made with lots of love, especially her chocolate chip cookies and Christmas candy, we all knew which candy was our favorite.
She was instrumental in the Ledgeview Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary organizing the annual bake sale fundraiser. Mary worked in the insurance industry for much of her career and was part of the “Fab Four”. 
Mary had an amazing circle of family and friends who she loved to entertain. No one ever left hungry or thirsty. “If you leave hungry it’s your own fault” she would say.
She leaves behind her husband Tom; children Justin, Jake (Rachal), Leah (special friend Andy), Mason (Marissa); and grandsons Myles and Brooks. Mary will also be missed by her mother Theresa; siblings Bill (Kay) Vanden Elzen, Jim Vanden Elzen, Lou Van Ess, Jerry (Peggy) Vanden Elzen, Ron Vanden Elzen, Mike (Aimee) Vanden Elzen, Amy Miller (special friend Joe). In-laws Margaret (Wayne) Dombrowicki, Lucy Sigmund, Wally (Kitty) Guns, Bernice (Tom) Gilson, Shirley (Bob) Brittnacher, Chuck (Jean) Guns, Bev (Lyle) Thiem, Julie (Mark) Baugnet, Joe (Kathy) Guns, Eileen (Al) VanderKinter, Cliff Guns, Amy (John) Beyer, Carie Jens; sisters-in-law Janet Fonferek and Pam Guns; along with many nieces and nephews.
Mary is preceded in death by her father Orville Vanden Elzen, her sister Jo Ann Vanden Elzen, father and mother-in-law Raphael and Arleen Guns, brothers-in-law Pat Sigmund, Dave Guns, Bill Guns, and Jeff Jens; Sisters-in-law Lisa Vanden Elzen, Debbie Van Boxtel, and Debbie Guns; and great nephews Trevor and Travis.
The Family wishes to send special thank you to Unity Hospice for all their generous care and support. And to all family and friends that reached out with love and prayers.
In lieu of flowers, memorials will be collected and go toward a memorial bench in Mary’s memory.
Family and friends may visit at St. Mary Catholic Church, 5832 Big Apple Road, Glenmore, on Friday, September 17, from 3-7:30pm. A prayer service will conclude the evening on Friday. Visitation will continue on Saturday, at the church, from 8:30am until 10:30am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am with Fr. Dave Pleier officiating. Entombment will be in Allouez Chapel Mausoleum. Cotter Funeral and Cremation Care is assisting the family.