Obit: Voight, Bernita (1923 - 2012)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Arnold, Balciar, Cole, Given, Johnson, Koukari, Liberty, Morris, Owen, Sauerbry, Simon, Stalhut, Voight

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 05/24/2012

Voight, Bernita "Bea" (Given) (22 JAN 1923 - 21 MAY 2012)

Bernita Given "Bea" Voight, age 89, of Shawano, passed away peacefully in her home on Monday, May 21, 2012.

Born on January 22, 1923 in Manchester, Iowa, Bea was one of eight children born to Thomas B. and Theresa (Simon) Given.

She left home in her early teens and moved to Chicago, Ill., where she met and married the love of her life, Dean Voight, in 1944. After marriage, Bea worked as a "Rosie the Riveter" in California while she waited for Dean to return home from the Pacific Theater of War. The couple then returned to Chicago while Dean healed from his injuries at Great Lakes.

In 1949 the couple was blessed with their first child, a son, Dean, Jr. Two years later their daughter, Vicki, was born. In 1955 they moved to Wisconsin where they helped Dean's parents manage the Oxbo Log west of Fifield. Bea also worked at St. Croix Fishing Pole Factory in Park Falls for the first few years after the move. She became known by many as the best waitress you could find in Price County. Having worked at several supper clubs, she retired as the head waitress from the Northwoods Inn in Fifield when Dean's job moved them to Medford in 1969.

Although traveling was not Bea's favorite pastime, she did make several trips back to Iowa to visit family, spent a few winters in Florida and made one journey to Las Vegas, Nev. Bea loved going to garage sales and taking weekly trips to the various casinos in the area. Bea loved her children dearly but her greatest joy in life was her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She has left them with many treasured memories of silly songs, penny games and laughing times.

Those left to celebrate Bea's life are her daughter, Vicki Johnson; daughter-in-law, Frances Liberty Voight; five grandchildren, Angela (Shane) Voight Koukari, Adam and Aaron Voight, all of Shawano, Ryan (Mary) Balciar of Boulder, Colo., and Stephanie (Mike) Johnson Newman of Elk Run Heights, Iowa; three great-grandchildren, Ashley Owen, Alexis Koukari and Aden Voight, all of Shawano; a sister, Marilyn "Tootie" Stalhut of Omaha, Neb.; a former son-in-law, Robert "Bob" Balciar; and many nieces and nephews.

Bea was preceded in death by her husband, Dean, on February 2, 2008; her son, Dean Jr.; her parents; a brother, Burdette "Bud" Jar; five sisters, Betty Given, Harriet Morris, Edith Sauerbry, Florence Cole and Shirley Arnold; and her son-in-law, Steven Johnson.

Private family services will be held at a later date. Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano assisted the family with arrangements. www.swedbergfuneralhome.com