Maureen Theresa McCain
July 9, 1940 – June 5, 2025
Maureen Theresa McCain was born on July 9, 1940, in McMinnville, Oregon, to Pauline and Vernon Kelly. During her early years, the family moved throughout the West Coast, eventually settling in California, where she graduated from Cloverdale High School in 1958.
After high school, Maureen lived in several places, including Reno and the San Francisco Bay Area, before meeting the love of her life, John McCain. They were married on April 20, 1963, in Palo Alto, California. John, who had two children from a previous marriage— Carolann and Scott—soon welcomed two more sons with Maureen: Mark and Matt.
In 1971, Maureen and John moved to Three Lakes, Wisconsin, to pursue John’s dream of winemaking. Together they established Fruit of the Woods Wine Cellar in 1972. Maureen enthusiastically joined the venture, leading winery tours, hosting tastings, and managing retail sales. All the while, she remained devoted to her family, supporting her sons in their interests and even serving as a Cub Scout den mother.
After retiring from the winery, Maureen and John spent their winters traveling and eventually became campground hosts at Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona. There, Maureen also volunteered in the interpretive center and bookstore. They later returned to Three Lakes as John’s health declined; he passed away in 2009.
In the years that followed, Maureen embraced a new chapter with grace and generosity. She became a dedicated volunteer at the Three Lakes Library and the Three Lakes Historical Society, contributing to annual fish boil fundraisers and other community events. In 2018, she was honored to serve as the Fourth of July Parade Marshal, a recognition she held with great pride.
As she required more support in her later years, Maureen leaned on family and her dearest friend Dar Kadulski. She eventually moved into Legacy Assisted Living, where she thrived and found joy in the final chapter of her life. On June 5, 2025, Maureen passed away peacefully with her family by her side.
Maureen’s greatest legacy is her family. She is survived by her nine grandchildren: Kimberly McCain, Cheryl McCain, Katie Kezelian, Sam Morykwas, Zac McCain, Kailas McCain, Katherine McCain, Quinn McCain, and Maxwell McCain, as well as her two great-grandchildren: Dotty Kezelian and Archie Kezelian.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the fall to honor Maureen and the remarkable life she lived.
Arrangements by Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home, Eagle River. Online condolences may be expressed at gaffney -busha.com PAID OBITUARY
