Obit: Wegner, Bernita  (1924 - 2010)

Contact: Audrey Roedl

Email: audero@charter.net

Surnames: Wegner, Wasserburger, Dux

----Source: The Loyal TRG  (Loyal, Clark County, Wis. 06 Jan 2010)

Wegner, Bernita  (20 FEB 1924-02 JAN 2010)

Bernita M. Wegner, 85, Neillsville, died on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m., with a Rosary Service at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 8, at the Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville, and from 9:39-10:30 a.m., on Saturday, Jan. 9, in the Narthax of St. Mary’s Church, Neillsville. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, Jan. 9, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Neillsville. The celebrant will be The Rev. Woodrow H. Pace. Music will be provided by Ronald Resong, organist, and St. Mary’s choir. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

Bernita Marian Wasserburger was born on Feb. 20, 1024, in Neillsville to Henry Charles and Martha (nee Dux) Wasserburger. As a young girl, she worked summers for the Tibbett Ice and Fuel company doing light bookkeeping and waiting on customers and then for the Neillsville Armory selling tickets for rollerskating. While in high school, she sold tickets at the movie theater for Mr. Adler. She took piano lessons from Mrs. Jess Scott and enjoyed playing duets with her sister, Marian, with whom she also spent many enjoyable hours riding their horses, Patsy and Dolly, and rollerskating. After her Uncle Leo bet her she could not learn to play the soprano saxophone, she practiced relentlessly, going on to win a gold medal at the solo competition at the state music tournament in Eau Claire. She graduated from Neillsville High School in 1941 and then worked as a housekeeper for Fr. Weber at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. After attending Villa Maria Academy in Frontenac, Minn., she attended St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing, Wausau, from 1942-45. Following her graduation and certification as a registered nurse in August 1945, she continued at the hospital, working in the surgery department. She returned to Neillsville and became the public health nurse for Clark County from 1946-53, obtaining her Public Health Nursing Certification in 1947 from the University of Minnesota. On Oct. 25, 1952, she married Carl Robert Wegner at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Neillsville. From 1968 to June 1970, she served first as acting director and later the director of nursing at the Sunset Nursing Home, Fairchild. In`970, when they bought out business partner Kenneth Olson’s interest in the Model Cleaners and became sole proprietors, she resigned from the Sunset Nursing Home to work with her husband. They operated the business with their family. She returned to Clark County Public Health Nursing Service in January 1976, working primarily in the northeast third of the county until her retirement in 1991.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and served on the parish board as secretary and as the chairperson of St; Agnes’ Circle. She was a Cub Scout den mother for eight years, Webelos leader, and member of the Cub Scout board of directors and later the Troop Committee for the Boy Scouts of America. She volunteered with numerous organizations including the American Cancer Society (as public education chairman), the Red Cross, the Heart Fund (as city chairman) and the March of Dimes (as secretary/treasurer and county co-chairman). She was named "Woman of the Year" by the Business and Professional Women on Sept. 11, 1984. She served on the zoning Committee and the Board of Appeals in Neillsville from 1986-95. She was instrumental in the formation of the Clark County Humane Society in 1987, becoming the shelter manager in 1991. After recovering from a near-fatal automobile accident in December 1996, she continued in service on the Board until the present.

She extended her gentle and compassionate heart to the animals she cared for, from the birds at her feeders and baths, to her cats and in turn to the countless kittens, cats, puppies and dogs she nurtured back to good health in foster care. Her tenderness was especially and uniquely resonant with her beloved and seemingly part human cat, "Pumpkin." She loved to garden and grow flowers, and took particular delight in giving beautiful bouquets to others. She enjoyed helping others and being involved with youth groups. Most of all, however, she enjoyed her family and the time she spent with them. She was a devoted wife and loving mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed by all who know and love her.

Survivors include four sons, Charles "Chuck" (Cheri) Wegner, Neillsville, Richard "Rick" (Tammy) Wegner, Marshfield, Scott Wegner, Schofield, and Thomas Wegner, Neillsville; two grandchildren, James and Eric Wegner; one sister, Marian (William) Boller, Wausau; four nieces and two nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Carl Robert Wegner; her parents; and a sister, Leona (Delbert) Langrek.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.GescheFH.com.

The Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville, is assisting the family with arrangements.