Mary Lou York, age 82, a resident of Manitowoc, entered eternal life on Friday, November 3, 2017 at Aurora Bay Care Medical Center in Green Bay. She passed away as the result of a broken heart when she lost her husband Joe.

Mary Lou was born on July 19, 1935 in the Town of Manitowoc to the late Burt and Edna Miller Thompson. She graduated from Lincoln High School with the class of 1953. On December 23, 1955 Mary Lou married Joseph York at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Manitowoc. He preceded her in death on May 30, 2012. Mary Lou worked at Imperial Eastman for 28 years until her retirement in 1997. She enjoyed playing sheepshead, sewing, reading, doing puzzles, making crafts, baking, was a member of Masquers, and above all, she enjoyed spending her time with her family and friends – especially her grandchildren. Mary Lou was a woman that had strong conviction in her beliefs and embraced the mantra of God, family and country. She was a member of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church and was very active within the church where she had taught Sunday School for many years and was a member of many organizations within the church.

Survivors include Mary Lou's five children, Terry (Chrissy) York, Manitowoc; Mary Jo (Randy) Murray, Manitowoc; Sarah Grovogel and her significant other Paul Fiske, Aitkin, MN; Michael (Cindy) York, Manitowoc; and Timothy (Karen Lukes) York, Manitowoc; 12 grandchildren, Jamie (Suzy) York, Amanda (Mark) Groth, Jodi Weaver, Tara (Eric) Buie, Josh Grovogel, Matthew York and his fiancée Cynthia Kohlmann, Bailey Grovogel, Derek Lukes-York, Jordan Fiske, Makaila York, Dillon Lukes-York, and Madison York; two step-grandchildren, Rebecca and Samuel Gustafson; eight great grandchildren; brother, James (Cheryl) Thompson, Georgetown, TX; two sisters, Kathryn Englund, Las Vegas, NV, and Judith Fetting, Des Plains, IL; sister-in-law, Joane Thompson, Manitowoc; also other relatives and friends. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joe; an infant daughter; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Robert (Jean) Thompson and Paul Thompson.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 2601 South 10th Street, Manitowoc with Rev. Vicki Fink officiating. Cremation has taken place at the Harrigan Parkside Crematory and Chapel with burial of Mary Lou and her husband Joe's ashes to be at Evergreen Cemetery at a later date. The family will greet relatives and friends at the church on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at 11 a.m. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harriganparksideufneralhome.com

The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North and 11th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate any memorials to be sent to St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Manitowoc.

Mary Lou's family would like to extend their thanks to the staffs of Aurora Medical Centers in Two Rivers and Green Bay for the care they provided, and also to the Manitowoc Police and Fire Departments for all of their assistance.