Bernita Newman

Bernita “Bea” Newman, 84, of Chippewa Falls died Wednesday, June 20, 2018 surrounded by family at Mayo Clinic Health System-Eau Claire.

She was born March 12, 1934 to Meta (Draak) and Walter Voelker at their home in rural Rice Lake, WI. She attended a country grade school and graduated from Rice Lake High School in 1951.

After graduation she worked at an office supply store until her marriage to Milford Newman on February 28, 1953. They started their life together in Cornell, WI where Milford worked for the Northwestern Railroad. After living in several towns their final move was to Chippewa Falls in 1959.

Bea was a stay at home mom until her children reached school age. She did noon hour duty at the school across the street from her home. She worked at Gordy’s as a cashier, produce manager and a bakery manager, decorating cakes and making salads as well as the baking.

In 1989 she decided to quit work to take care of grandchildren and children of friends. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church where she had various roles including janitor and altar guild since 1951, treasurer since 1990 and did cooking for different events at the church. She also sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and VBS.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and son-in-law, Donald Dietze.

Bea is survived by her husband of 65 years, Milford; daughters, Kathie (Roger) Hunt of Chippewa Falls, Debra (Don) Bowe of Chetek, Judy (Dave) Kaner of Rosemount, MN; son, Mark Newman of Chippewa Falls; 11 grandchildren, Theresa Hunt, Aaron (Laura) O’Connell, Kaylyn (Vic) Palomar, Anna (Robert) Varwig, Alex (Samantha) Dietze, Andrew (Chris), Adam (Samantha), Ross, and Blake Kaner, Michael, and Matthew (Ashley) Newman; 11 great-grandchildren, Alex, Madisynn, Zach, Emily, Addy, Harper, Tristin, Carter, Mason, Abigail and Levi; siblings, Maynard Voelker of Rice Lake, Adeline (Lynn) Swan of Chatham, IL, LaVern (Mary) Voelker of Okauchee, WI, Rolland (Carol) Voelker of Coon Rapids, MN, Roger (Jamie) Voelker of Rice Lake, and Marian Ackley of Wyoming, MN; as well as many other relatives and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 23 at Faith Lutheran Church, Chippewa Falls with Rev. Charles Yunghans officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Interment will be held at Northern WI Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Spooner, WI on Monday, June 25.