Mary Louise Smalley

Mary Louise (Combs) Smalley died on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at her home.

The eldest of three children, she was born July 3, 1935 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Hannah J (Robinson) and Lawrence S. Combs.

She graduated from Cathedral Grade School and St. Agnes High School, both in Indianapolis.   She subsequently received her B.A. Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Michigan State University in 1953. Before her marriage, she was employed by Marshall Fields and Fred Harvey Restaurant Corporation in Chicago in restaurant management.

On August 5, 1959 she was married to John J. Smalley in St. Adrian’s Church, Chicago.   After “honeymooning” in Europe, courtesy of the U.S. Army, they returned to Chicago in 1961, where her husband finished medical school. They moved to La Crosse, Wis., in 1970.

She was the beloved mother of six: Kathy Smalley, Jenny (Tom) Fregin, and John (Rana) of La Crosse, Larry (Sandy) of Menomonee Falls, Wis., Mike (Amy) of Savage, Minn., and Jim (Sara) of Marshall, Minn. The “quintessential” grandmother delighted in her 14 grandchildren: Andy, Katie, Matt, Anna, Jack, Mikayla, Tyler, Ally, Samantha, Emma, Erica, A.J., Brianna, and R.J.; and a great grandson, Ollie. She is also survived by her brothers, Lawrence (Mary Ann) Combs of Greensboro, Ga. and David (Peri) Combs of Jasper, Ind.; and her brother-in-law, James Smalley of Elgin, Ill.  She was preceded in death by her husband, John J., in 2013, and her parents.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 13 ^th , at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 515 Main St., Holmen. Msgr. Delbert Malin will officiate. Private entombment in St. Francis of Assis Mausoleum will take place at a later date. Family and friends may call from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 200 West Ave. So., La Crosse, and from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass on Wednesday at the church.

Memorials should be directed to the Salvation Army or “Smile Train” at www.smiletrain.org .