Mary Estelle Falls

Mary E. Falls, age 73, of Baraboo, passed away on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg with family at her side.

Mary was born to Lt. Col. Joseph Francis Jr. and 1st Lt. Perry Ruth (Dougher) Falls on June 3, 1952, in New York City, NY. Mary graduated from a Catholic girls’ school in Peoria, Illinois, in 1970. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and later completed her master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. In 2015, she returned to school to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, furthering a career dedicated to caring for others. 

Mary traveled to Tanzania on a mission trip to help educate women about personal hygiene and health. She explored the world, visiting Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and many other places. She continued to pursue the things that mattered most to her and never stopped looking ahead.

Many people knew Mary through her lifelong passion for Giant Schnauzers. For more than 35 years, she dedicated herself to breeding healthy, long-lived dogs and preserving the breed she loved. The puppies she raised found homes all around the world, and many families welcomed multiple generations of her dogs into their lives. What began as a passion grew into a global community of friendships that lasted decades.

Mary was an active member of the Giant Schnauzer Club of America (GSCA) and Secretary of the Working Riesenschnauzer Federation (WRSG). She enjoyed planning, hosting, and participating in national events for WRSG and was proud to have bred and trained dogs that earned titles in police work, IGP, agility and service work.

Others may have known her through her work in the medical field. Mary dedicated her career to serving veterans at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, where she worked for over twenty years. Beginning as a research assistant in pulmonology, she later worked in primary care before serving as a supervisor of Nurse Practitioners. She concluded her distinguished career as a liver transplant coordinator for the VA, a role that reflected both her clinical expertise and deep compassion for patients navigating complex medical journeys. Her career touched countless lives, and the relationships she built with patients, coworkers, and friends extend far beyond the walls of any hospital or clinic.

The role she treasured most was being “Mimi”. She was blessed to watch her two granddaughters grow into the wonderful girls they are today, now 15 and 11 years old. She was incredibly proud of them and loved every opportunity to be part of their lives.

Mary was strong, fierce, independent, and never afraid to tell it like it was. She had high standards, strong opinions, and a determination that inspired those around her. She faced challenges head-on, lived life on her own terms, and showed all of us what resilience truly looks like.

She is survived by her son, Robert (Katie) Copley and their daughters, Maci and Cora, of Sun Prairie; siblings, Johnny Falls, Karen Louise (Dennis) Colson, and Perry Ellen Dewey; other relatives and many friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Lt. Col. Joseph Francis Falls and 1st Lt. Perry Ruth (Dougher) Falls; brother, Matthew Francis Falls and brother-in-law, Dan Dewey.

At this time, no services will be held. A Celebration of Life will be announced and held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to UW Health Carbone Cancer Center or Giant Schnauzer Club of America (GCSA).

To the world she was many things: a nurse, educator, breeder, mentor, traveler, daughter, sister, grandmother, and friend. To me, she was simply Mom. - Robert Copley