Obit: Strange, Florence (1928 - 2013)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Altenhofen, Bonneau, Moertl, O'Reilly, Pernsteiner, Rothamer, Ruplinger, Strange, Vos

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 11/07/2013

Strange, Florence (Pernsteiner) (20 AUG 1928 - 9 OCT 2013)

Florence died on Wednesday, Oct. 9 in California from a massive stroke. While enjoying a brief trip to San Diego, Calif., with a group of fellow artists, she suddenly lost consciousness on October 7. She remained unconscious until her death two days later.

Florence was 85 years old. Florence was born on August 20, 1928 in Medford, the second child of Emil Pernsteiner and Elsie Rothamer Pernsteiner. She attended Holy Rosary Elementary School in Medford and developed a deep respect for and identified with the nuns who were her teachers. At the age of 16, Florence entered St. Joseph's Convent in Milwaukee. As her schooling and her religious life progressed, she eventually took her vows as a nun in the Order of School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee.

Florence graduated from Alverno College in Milwaukee and was selected by the convent to be sent to National College of Education in Evanston, Ill., where she earned her master's degree in education. She taught elementary school, her favorite grades being the younger students. She was then chosen to teach at the Laboratory Campus School at Alverno College. There she taught college students majoring in elementary education during the evenings, and in the daytime taught a demo kindergarten behind one-way glass, so college students could quietly observe her interaction with the children.

As Catholicism changed, Florence deeply meditated on her core values and in 1969 resigned from School Sisters of St. Francis. She then moved to San Francisco, Calif., where her brother, Richard, lived. In 1973, Florence met David Strange at a dance. They married a year later, and moved to Petaluma, Calif., in 1987. Together Florence and her husband regularly attended Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma and had been active in Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Sonoma State University.

Florence, a lifelong gardener, was a member of California Rare Fruit Growers, and wrote numerous articles for their publication, Fruit Gardener. Since childhood, Florence loved to create art. She has exhibited many water color paintings and sculptures. Florence was also a talented writer. While with the Alverno College faculty, she served as editor for Mime Magazine, and wrote and illustrated the series A Time for Living, publications for elementary teachers. She was author and illustrator of the children's book Rock-A-Bye Whale and illustrator of Brown Pelican at the Pond, written by her nephew, Edward O'Reilly. She also studied her family genealogy and wrote two books, Rothamers in Medford, Wisconsin, and Pernsteiners in America.

Florence was preceded in death by her brother, William Pernsteiner, and her sister, Ann Moertl. She is survived by her husband, David Strange of Petaluma, sisters, Mary Jane Bonneau of Payallup, WA, Caroline O'Reilly of Nashotah, Frances Ruplinger of Hartland, Joan Altenhofen of Marathon and Bernadette Vos of Duluth, MN, and brothers, Bernard Pernsteiner of Holcombe and Richard Pernsteiner of Oakland, Calif. She is also survived by step-sons, Mark Strange of Oakland, Calif., and Keith Strange of Pacifica, Calif., step-grandchildren, and many devoted nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to share memories of Florence is to be held on Sunday, Nov. 17 at Petaluma Women's Club, Petaluma, Calif. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to a charity of your choice in Florence's name.