Mary Kathleen Denkewalter
Jan 3, 1953 -
Aug 30, 2021
Mary Kaye passed away at home on Aug. 30, 2021, after a two year-battle with angiosarcoma, at the age of 68. MKaye was born in Eau Claire, Wis., to Walter and Patricia (nee Costello) Ryberg. She attended local schools and graduated from The College of St. Catherine's in St. Paul, Minn. MKaye married her husband Paul in 1975 in Eau Claire and immediately moved with him to Anchorage, Alaska. They have three girls: Pia, Ingrid and Grethe.
Mary Kaye was the personification of love, always thinking of her family and friends. Her generosity of spirit was palpable, whether supporting her family, friends or her students. She balanced a full-time teaching job of 38 years with nurturing her family. She started working full-time for the Anchorage School District in 1981and retired in 2018.
Mary Kaye's sense of humor was unmatched. Always one to lighten the mood, she couldn't help resist a great joke or a bit of scatological humor. Her love of fashion, shoes and jewelry was well known, always dressing impeccably. She loved traveling to foreign countries and throughout the U.S., visiting museums and dining at restaurants in Florence, Paris, London, Athens, Sydney, Auckland, Vienna, Galway, New York, Berkeley, Minneapolis and more. She exercised daily, hiking, camping, river rafting, Nordic skiing, working out at the gym and just plain walking.
Mary Kaye was an artist who had an insatiable appetite for learning new techniques and methods, from stained glass to painting to metalsmithing. She took online seminars even while battling cancer, always looking forward, always developing new techniques.
She took in-person seminars in Switzerland for weaving, Germany for metalsmithing, nationally from Maine to Carolina to California for art jewelry and metalsmithing. One of MKaye's broaches was recognized by the Fondazione Cominelli in Italy.
Mary Kaye is survived by her husband, Paul, of 46 years; daughter, Ingrid (Chapin Hansen); daughter, Grethe (Andrew Tongen); and granddaughters, Pia and Fiene Hansen. MKaye is also survived by her sister, Kim Gagnon; and brothers, John Ryberg, Greg Ryberg and Drew Ryberg.
MKaye was preceded in death by her daughter, Pia-Margrethe.
A memorial service will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations in MKaye's name can be made to the Alaska Metals Art Guild, 1501 P Street, Anchorage, AK 99501 via check, or PayPal at akmetal907@gmail.com.
