Obit: Whitfield, June E. (1928 – 2017)
Transcriber:
stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Whitfield, Caritonos, Otzelberger, Bjerke
Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 14 Sep 2017
Whitfield, June E. (6 JUN 1928 – 11 SEP 2017)
June E. Whitfield, 89, of Neillsville, WI lost a long and courageous battle with
cancer on Monday, September 11, 2017 at the Onalaska Care Center in Onalaska,
WI.
June Elizabeth Caritonos was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin on June 6th 1928. June,
along with her seven brothers and sisters, grew up in a home filled with love
and a deep devotion to God. The strong love and religious faith they shared
helped them get through the great Depression of the 1930's. This also helped
carry them through the fear and loneliness when her brothers were overseas in
World War II.
During World War II June developed a deep sense of patriotism. Her heart truly
went out to all of those, whom lost sons on the battlefield. She also respected
those soldiers who came home with the physical, emotional and mental scars of
war. June loved America. She appreciated the sacrifice which the soldiers made
to give us all the freedom which we are privileged and blessed with.
She attended St Francis High School. She was then employed by the Gladness
Bakery of Milwaukee, from 1944 to 1951.
In 1949, she married Leander Otzelberger. While living in Milwaukee they had 2
sons, Thomas and Michael. They were divorced in 1971.
In 1976, she moved to Neillsville Wisconsin and married Clarence Whitfield. They
lived on a dairy farm until 1992. They then moved into town and lived at O'Neill
Terrace Apartments. Clarence passed away in 2001 and she continued living there.
One of June's greatest loves was to help others in need whether it was a family,
friends, neighbors or a stranger. She was always willing to help out. She did a
lot of volunteer work for the Neillsville Memorial Medical Hospital Auxiliary.
She loved visiting with the patients at the Nursing home and doing what she
could to brighten their day. While doing volunteer work she made a lot of
friends and loved them all very deeply.
June was very hard working and loved being outdoors. She was especially fond of
autumn. She really liked the change in colors and all of the fresh smells of
harvest time.
She loved doing crafts and making things for others to hang on their doors or do
whatever they wanted with. She loved to give and receive cards for all holidays
and special occasions. She always felt it was important to remind her family and
friends how much she loved and cared for them.
June loved writing and reading poetry. She has written hundreds of poems. Most
of them were simple and spoken with love, straight from her heart. A lot of her
poems were short prayers.
The poem she was most proud of was "Bring Them Home" she wrote this poem during
the Gulf War, for our soldiers fighting in the desert. This poem was put into
the Library of Congress.
June will be deeply missed by her family and friends. For all of us who had the
privilege of sharing our lives with her… we know that Heaven now has a new
Angel.
June is survived by sons; Thomas (Jackie) of Oak Creek, WI and Michael (Chris)
of Onalaska, WI, grandsons; Thomas John "T.J." (Alison) of Brookings, SD and Joe
of Waterford, WI and two great grandchildren; Jaycee and Olivia.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, and siblings; Thomas, George, Bob,
William, Marion, Lucille and Ione.
A Memorial Service will be held at 12:00 p.m., Friday, September 15, 2017 at the
Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville, WI. Pastor Douglas Bjerke will officiate.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Friday morning at the
Gesche Funeral Home prior to the service. Inurnment will be in Holy Cross
Catholic Cemetery in Milwaukee, WI at a later date.
Online Condolences may be made at
www.geschefh.com.
The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting June's family with Funeral arrangements.
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