Mary Anne Wefso passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her children,
on July 29th, 2026. Mary Anne was born on May 22nd, 1946, in Rushville, Nebraska, to
Edmund and Marian (Marcy) Hollstein. Throughout her childhood, Mary Anne was blessed
to have welcomed three beautiful younger sisters – Linda, Susan, and Irene. These four
would become infamously known as “the Hollstein girls.” Mary Anne grew up in Rushville,
Nebraska, graduating from Rushville High School in 1964. Following graduation, she
attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska. Mary Anne married John
Rath in June of 1967, then moving to Alvarado, Texas where John served in the Army. During
that time, Mary Anne continued her studies at Texas Wesleyan in Fort Worth. In 1969 they
returned to Lincoln, where Mary Anne graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan with a Bachelor
of Arts Degree in Business Administration and a minor in Accounting and Economics. In
1969, Mary Anne welcomed her oldest son, Chris, and twenty-one months later she gave
birth to her twin daughters Julie and Cynthia in 1971. From 1968-1977, the family lived in
Lincoln, Nebraska. While living in Lincoln, Mary Anne enjoyed taking her children to the
swimming pool, attending the neighborhood church, and teaching Sunday school. In 1977,
the family moved back to Mary Anne’s hometown of Rushville. She began working for her
father at his law firm, where she did abstracting and assisted with other administrative
matters for the firm. In 1982, Mary Anne married the love of her life, Fritz Wefso. She also
gained two new stepchildren, Jim and Claire. The couple spent many years hosting dinner
parties, traveling, spending time with friends, and attending their children’s and
grandchildren’s activities. In her later years, Mary Anne experienced the joy of welcoming
15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Mary Anne was involved in numerous activities
and associations within the community. She served as treasurer of the Methodist church, a
member of the park board, library board and hospital board. Mary Anne was also a member
of PEO, Legion Auxiliary, Methodist church, and bridge club. She enjoyed participating in a
bowling league and water aerobics. She also had fun when walking with friends, shopping
with her daughters and sisters, and hiking. She experienced many adventures driving
around the beautiful countryside with her mother and father. Mary Anne is survived by her
sisters, Linda (Dave) Ocken, Susan Retherford, and Irene Nedved; her children, Julie (Mike)
Coomes, Chris Rath and Yvonne, Jim (Cameon) Wefso, Claire Wefso; 15 grandchildren and
5 great-grandchildren. Mary Anne is preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Marian
Hollstein; Daughter, Cynthia Rath Kull; her husband, Fritz Wefso; brother-in-law Jerry
Retherford, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. Mary Anne’s loving,
caring, and supportive spirit will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Services for Mary Anne Wefso, of Rushville, NE will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM at the Morse United Methodist Church in Rushville, NE
Mary Anne passed away on July 29, 2026 at her home in Rushville, NE
Mary Anne was born on May 22, 1946 in Rushville, Nebraska.
She was 80 years old.
Arrangements in care of Chamberlain Mortuary of Gordon, NE
Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com