Velma Chance

Velma Chance, age 93, of Chippewa Falls, died peacefully on Saturday, March 31, 2018, under the care of Mayo Hospice, at the Dove Healthcare – Rutledge Home in Chippewa Falls.

Velma touched many lives with her intelligence, humor and wisdom. She was the only child of Frank and Bertha (Gearing) Bradshaw born on January 6, 1925, in East St. Louis, where she lived through her first marriage. Her first husband, Frank Onion, was a Navy pilot who died during World War II as a hero awarded the Purple Heart. Velma later married Rolf Chance and moved to the Chippewa Falls area in 1951. After their divorce, she raised her four children as a single mother in the 1960's and 70's. She retired in 1988 from her career as a secretary for CESA 10 in Chippewa Falls and enjoyed 30 years of retirement.

Those who knew Velma will remember her as a friendly, articulate woman with a keen sense of humor. She passed down her love of learning and belief in living life fully to her children. She enjoyed camping and gardening and delighted in watching the seasons change from her apartment overlooking Duncan Creek. But her true love was for words and reading, from crossword puzzles to etymology to mysteries. Velma was civic-minded and occasionally appeared in local news and on the op-ed page, never shying away from intelligently expressing her opinions. She believed in women’s rights and kept current with politics until the end. Congratulations for a life well lived.

Velma is survived by her daughters, Kathleen (Terry) King of Chippewa Falls, and Donna (Dave Kawa) Chance of Janesville, WI; sons, Michael Chance of Woodstock, NY and Steve Chance of Denver, CO; grandchildren, Brandon Chance, Rebecca Chance, Brian (MJ Cienski) Chance, Keith (Darra) King, Russell King, Jordan King, Kent King, Quinn (Halley Lauer) Arntsen, and Rose Arntsen; great-grandchildren, Lucas Chance, Aiden Chance, Sophia King, Francis King, Orion Way, and Olin Arntsen. They were blessed to have her unconditional love and support for so many years.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 27, 2018 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, 44 E. Columbia Street, Chippewa Falls, followed by the funeral at 11 a.m. Jody Maureen Hagedorn will officiate. Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls.

Velma’s family would like to thank the staff of The Rutledge Home, Mayo Hospice, St. Joseph’s Home Health, and Becky at Inclusa for their kind and compassionate care and support given to Velma.

Please share your memories and condolences at www.pedersonvolker.com.