Bernice Ivaska

VISITATION:

3-4 p.m., Sunday, October 11, 2015 at Crossroads Church, 209 W. South Ave., Chippewa Falls

SERVICE:

4 p.m., Sunday, October 11, 2015 at Crossroads Church, 209 W. South Ave., Chippewa Falls

Bernice Luella Ivaska, 91, formerly of 839 Wilson Street, died peacefully on October 7, 2015, at the Wissota Health and Regional Vent Center in Chippewa Falls.

Bernice was born December 17, 1923, in the town of Tilden to William and Alice (Buetow) Boettcher.

She married Paul Ivaska of Minneapolis on July 5, 1942, at The Christian Gospel Chapel in Chippewa Falls, and they had three sons. Soon after the death of her husband in 1950, Bernice began working in retail at Shultz Brothers and then The Waterman Company. Skilled with numbers, she became the bookkeeper there. She worked for Extrusion Dies Incorporated as their bookkeeper from 1976 until her retirement in 1993.

The determination and resilience with which Bernice lived her life, raised her sons, cared for her mother and taught preschoolers for over 50 years at First Baptist/Crossroads Church are remarkable. Her Christian faith became the foundation of a life well lived with her cornerstone being her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Bernice is survived by two sons, Paul of Seattle and David (Sally) of Evanston, Illinois, one sister, Leora, of Chippewa Falls, six grandsons, Andrew of Montreal, Canada, Peter of Evanston, IL, Erik (Jessica) of Honolulu, Hawaii, John (Courtney) of Burundi, East Africa, Mikael (Nicole) of Vashon, Washington, and James of Washington, D.C., and four great grandchildren, Zadie, Harper and Teo all of Burundi and Ava Marie of Vashon Island, in addition to numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one son, Nathan, three brothers, R.John, Milton, and Lawrence, three sisters, Gertrude, Evelyn and Rosemary, and one daughter-in-law, Sharon.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m., Sunday, October 11 at Crossroads Church in Chippewa Falls. A family gathering and burial will be held at Forest Hill at a later date.

A visitation welcoming all will be held one hour prior to the service Sunday at the church, with a reception following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bernice's honor are preferred and will be put towards projects that were held close to her heart.

AFTERSERVICE:

A memorial celebration for Bernice Ivaska, 91, of Chippewa Falls, was held on Sunday, October 11 at Crossroads Church in Chippewa Falls. The Rev. Wade Duroe and Bernice's son, Rev. Paul Ivaska officiated the service; music was provided by the Steward Family; Bernice's son David shared personal refelctions; and niece, Marily Boettcher-Fellenz and neighbor, Noah Mutter-Schulz shared what Bernice meant to them.

Following the service, a meal was shared by family and friends.