Marguerite “Mugsie” (Zeise) Cygan, 96, passed away May 23, 2015 at the Jack and Ingrid Meng Residence of Unity Hospice. She was born in Green Bay on July 25, 1918, daughter of the late Edward and Elizabeth (Murphy) Zeise. She graduated from East High School with honors with the class of ’37. Mugsie married Harry Cygan on September 4, 1937 at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
She so loved children that she and Harry took in foster children from Catholic Charities. They also took in Cuban refugees. In the early 1960’s, Mugsie and Harry were named Foster Parents of the year and had their picture taken with then Governor Reynolds. Foreign exchange students were also welcomed in the Cygan home. These students still visit and communicate with her.
Mugsie and Harry baby sat for several Packer players children and they still call her Grandma Mugsie. Mugsie was such a Packer fan that she met and became a friend of Packer President Mark Murphy. A couple of years ago, Mugsie made the top ten for Packer fan of the year.
She worked at Hansen Dairy for a short time. With her love of children, she worked as school secretary at Oak Grove, Roosevelt, Washington Junior High School and Tank school before retiring in 1984. She then participated in the ESL program at St. Norbert College. She was such a kind, gentle and loving person and will be sadly missed by family and all the people whose lives she has touched. She is also a proud cancer survivor.
She is survived by her three children, James (Mitzi) Cygan, Dianne (Ed) Tarrence, and Michael (Nancy) Cygan all of Green Bay and special daughter, Ruth Marie Mettner; five grandchildren, James (Lori) Cygan Jr., Kathleen Roix, Kenneth Roix and fiancée Tina Vanden Avond, Michael (Amanda) Cygan, and Patrick Cygan; two step grandchildren, Chris Halbrook, Kara Halbrook and fiancée Donald Lira; nine great grandchildren, Ethan Farley, Carter Smith, Payton Smith, Jacob Cygan, Joseph Cygan, Logan Cygan, Zoey Cygan, Chloe Cygan, Harrison Trost, Four step great grandchildren, Tyler Ertel, Leroy Bomski , Dylan and Lucy Lira; plus 5 Tarrence step grand children and their spouses and their ten children (her step great grandchildren) and many nieces and nephews.
Mugsie was preceded in death by her husband, Harry on November 13, 1995; son-in-law Robert Roix; one brother, Joseph Zeise and one sister Marcella Van Beek.
Visitation at Resurrection Catholic Church 333 Hilltop Dr. Allouez, Thursday, June 4th from 4PM until the time of the wake service at 7PM. Visitation will continue at the church Friday, June 5th, from 9:30 AM until the time of the Funeral Mass at 11 AM with Bishop Morneau officiating and Father Dean Dombroski, concelebrant.
The family would like to extend a very special thank you to Dr. Nicholas Heezen and the Aurora Staff, the staff and volunteers of Unity Hospice and the Jack and Ingrid Meng Residence and the Packer family for their kindness they showed to our mother.