Obit: Hemstrom, Brenda Jean #2 (1952 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Hemstrom, Narron, Harmon, Bigalke, Kappen, Bjerke

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) February 23, 2011

Hemstrom, Brenda Jean (30 March 1952 - 19 February 2011)

Brenda Hemstrom, 58, of Neillsville died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, with her family at her side, at the Memorial Medical Center in Neillsville.

Brenda Jean Hemstrom was born March 30, 1952, in Sparta, the daughter of Clifford and Lois (Narron) Harmon. She attended school in Stevens Point and graduated from P. J. Jacobs High School in 1970.  She was united in marriage to Mike Bigalke and had two children, Robert and Colin Bigalke. The family was required to move around the country with the United States Air Force and they eventually landed in California.  She and Mike later divorced.  This time in Brenda’s life was very special and helped her find her passion in health care. She met Paul Hemstrom and they were united in marriage April 4, 1981, in Lake Tahoe, NV.  Shortly after their wedding, Brenda started her schooling and training to obtain her Family Practitioner license. Brenda and Paul had three children, Josh, Sarah, and Megan.  In 1991, Brenda was hired at the Memorial Medical Center, and the family moved to Neillsville. Brenda and Paul divorced in 2001. She continued working at the hospital until her health forced her to retire in 2009.

Brenda served a number of years as the city health officer.  She also served on the board of the Chamber of Commerce in Neillsville. She was a member of the United Church of Christ and her hobbies included mowing the grass, crocheting, playing the piano and cooking.

She is survived by four children, Colin (Michelle) Bigalke of Lakeville, MN, Josh Hemstrom and Sarah Hemstrom and Megan Hemstrom all of Neillsville; two grandchildren, Ben and Sydney Bigalke of Lakeville, MN; a sister, Debra (John Kappen) Harmon of Augusta; and a niece, Jennifer Kappen, of New Mexico.

She is preceded in death by a son, Robert Bigalke, in May 2001; her mother, Lois, in January 2003; and her father, Clifford in July 2008.

Funeral services for Brenda will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville.  Past or Douglas Bjerke will officiate. Interment will be in the Dells Dam Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the Gesche Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Brenda Hemstrom family for designation at a later date.

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

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Brenda’s family with funeral arrangements.