Mary Margaret Denzler

Our beloved mother, Mary Margaret Denzler, passed away peacefully at her home in Decatur, IL, on July 8, 2026, after 85 years of amazing life. Mom was born on November 3, 1940, as the second of five children to George and Ann (Adzima) Heidenreich in Oshkosh, WI. Mom always enjoyed delicious cherry or pecan kringle from Racine.

After graduating from Mt. Vernon Township High School, she attended and graduated from Mt. Vernon Community College (now Rend Lake College). Mom was proud to be the first in the family to graduate college. She was adventurous and loved boating (she bought a boat before a car), water skiing, and traveling. She drove to Washington D.C. for JFK’s inauguration in 1961, traveled with her younger sister Susan to JFK’s funeral in 1963, and explored Europe after sailing solo on a RMS Queen Mary transatlantic voyage from New York to London.

After meeting at a Sears picnic (both grandfathers worked at Sears), she married Walter A. Denzler of Centralia on October 23, 1965, and they celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2015. Her beloved husband passed away in 2016. In 2025, she achieved the culmination of their joint goal of traveling to every state in the nation when she checked Hawaii and North Dakota off the list.

Mom and Dad’s greatest legacy and joy were their family, and she leaves behind Michael Alan (Alyson), Mark David (Debbi), and Jeffrey Scott (Karla) along with her beloved grandchildren C.J. Baker (Renee), Makenzie Denzler, Kathryn Denzler, Kit Denzler, and Jacob Denzler along with her youngest sister Susan (Ron) Doris, and sister-in-law Anne Heidenreich.

Mom will be met in heaven by her grandparents, mom & dad, stepmom Myrtle, and siblings Patricia Somer (Dick), Thomas Heidenreich, and John Heidenreich.

After working for the former A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company in an administrative role, she started a small balloon shop (Balloons ‘n Things) in the family house that grew into a store selling balloons, flowers, candy, stuffed animals, and lotto tickets. At one point, she operated stores in Decatur, Bloomington and Springfield and really enjoyed conversing with long-time regular customers. Mom retired and closed the store in 2015 after more than three decades.

She absolutely loved playing cards (Canasta) with her monthly Wednesday group, reading books and putting together puzzles, playing bingo at the Senior Center and Mt. Zion Library, and watching her beloved Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team. There was nothing she loved more than cheering on the Illini and dreaming of a national championship, which is why one of the memorials is for the Experience Champaign Urbana Foundation at the University of Illinois Division of Athletics. One of her final wishes was contributing a few bucks to help Coach Underwood recruit the final piece of the puzzle for a championship. She’ll be watching from above when they hopefully cut the nets down in 2027. I-L-L…I-N-I!

Mom was also a world-class volunteer starting early in life as a candy striper at St. Mary’s Hospital in Mt. Vernon. She was a PTA mom and was present at every holiday party, coached little league teams, led Cub Scouts, volunteered at swim meets, baked the best birthday cakes and later in life tutored 3rd grade students in reading and math at E.J. Muffley School, volunteered at the Children’s Museum, and most recently made mats at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church for the homeless. She loved holidays and made the best Christmas brunch cake that became a treasured family tradition along with making holiday goodies with the grandkids. Mom had a heart of gold and will be missed.

We’ll honor our mom on Wednesday, July 15 in Decatur at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home starting with a visitation at 10:00 am and memorial service at 11:00 am. Mom and Dad will be buried together at Noon at Point Pleasant Cemetery in Decatur. Family and friends are invited to continue celebrating her remarkable life with food & drink after the burial.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Experience Champaign Urbana Foundation at the University of Illinois, or Mt. Zion District Library.