Mary Ann Elsner (74), of Brandon, FL, went peacefully to her heavenly home on October 13, 2024. Mary was born on November 30, 1949 in Ashland, WI. She grew up in Milwaukee where she started her family, later they moved to Florida, which became her home. She is survived by her son, Edward (Detria) Elsner; brothers, Merel Jr. (Kim) Kerr, Earl (Peggy) Kerr; her best friend & loving companion, Tom Burns; grandchildren, Chandler (Amanda) Elsner, Carson (Mia) Elsner, Ellie Elsner, & Emery Elsner, as well as countless others who called her grandma, aunt, & friend and loved her so very much. She is preceded in death by her parents, Merel Hugh & Kathryn Ann Kerr, brother Alec ‘Sonny’ Pufall, and granddaughter, Avery Kathryn Elsner.
Mary was a member of the Teamsters Union during her tenure at Briggs & Stratton Manufacturing Co. in Milwaukee. After moving to Florida, she was a loyal employee at Walgreens Corporation for more than 30 years before retiring. Mary was loved by all of her regular customers through the years. Many of them became good friends and would come by her store just to say hello.
Mary was a lifelong fan & shareholder of the Green Bay Packers. She loved watching them play & was always cheering them on. You could always count on a text or call from her on game days with a big, “Go Pack Go!”
From the onset of her diagnosis until her final days, Mary fought to beat her cancer valiantly with strength & dignity. The doctors & staff at Moffitt Cancer Center treated her with excellence and were so kind. She was grateful for the wonderful care she received. She would always thank the nurses & make them smile. Her big heart and caring personality were always evident, even in her hardest days. These are just some of the attributes that we loved about her. She was tough but also gentle. She was caring & loyal to everyone she met. She loved her family & friends with so much fervor. Mary had a heart of gold!
Memorial donations may be made to Moffitt Cancer Center & Research in lieu of flowers, honoring Mary’s legacy. A Celebration of Life will be held on November 30, 2024. More details will be shared in the coming days.
