Mary Joan Reppun

An amazing educator, Mary taught fifth grade in the Lutheran school system for more than 45 years on Oahu and Maui. She was well-known for her creative mind, her spirituality, and her dedication to lifting the lives of those around her. She loved living in Up Country with all the native plants.

Mary was born Nov. 5, 1945, and raised in Wausau, Wisconsin. She majored in education at Concordia College in Minnesota, taught for two years back in chilly Wisconsin, then took off for Hawaii in 1970. Mary met Lynne and remained the best of friends for 54 years. Along the way, they found the loves of their lives, Carl Reppun and Paul Uffman, respectively.

Mary was always volunteering. She set up toy drives. She was a regular at the Maui Humane Society, opening her home to all kinds of dogs, particularly the old and unwanted ones. She was an active member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School, sharing her love and aloha freely. Mary was especially dedicated to Friends of the Children’s Justice Center, which helps to provide much needed services to children of abuse and neglect in Maui County.

Everyone who knew Mary delighted in her inventive and unexpected gifts. Her daughter, Seyth Reppun, remembers finding a huge but lightweight box arriving on her doorstep. Inside the box were balloons, and inside each balloon was a handwritten note or money or some other “really cool thing,” as Seyth puts it. Another example is on Dominics birthday she gave him a huge chunk of ice with individual dollar bills frozen inside. Mary’s creativity led her to ceramic art classes at the Kaunoa Senior Center, where she produced beautiful clay pieces that are now family treasures. One of her last pieces was a ceramic plaque with a list of her wise 37 commandments. A sampling:

“Give thanks. Soak up the sun. Pray. Chat. Connect. Breathe. Watch an owl fly by. Put your feet up. Reminisce. Count your blessings. Watch a sunset. Enjoy the cool.

Converse. Be still. Smile. Collect your thoughts. Talk story. Take a nap. Read.

Appreciate life. Laugh. Meditate. Sing. Feel the wind. Sip a drink. Listen to nature.

Practice joy. Reflect. Pop a cork. Pet a dog. And be joyful.”

Our wonderful Tutu is survived by daughter Seyth Reppun, grandchildren Dominic and Carmela of Kula, Maui; and Ryan Tompkins of Sausalito, CA. She is also survived by her brother Thomas Hahn and his wife, Carol, of Appleton, Wisconsin; and by many caring relatives, longtime friends and her dog Molly.

Tutu was predeceased by her husband Carl Reppun and her parents Elroy and Marion Hahn of Wausau, Wisconsin.

As we mourn our adored Tutu, we await a sighting of the pueo owl, to remind us that she, and all our loved ones, are near.

Those who so desire can make donations to the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui. Wells Street, Suite 101, Wailuku, HI 96793.

A funeral service will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School, 520 One Street, Kahului, Maui, on Saturday, March 9 at 11 am.