Bernice A. Beltz, 95, of Clintonville, formerly of Janesville, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013, at the Pine Manor Health Care Center in Embarrass. Bernice was born Oct. 7, 1918, in the Township of Pella, Shawano County. She was the daughter of the late John and Elsie (Koepsel) Engelhardt. As a young child she would walk across neighboring farms to attend school at the Pella Rural School.
While growing up, Bernice and her family were members of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, township of Pella, where she began playing the organ at the age of 14. After finishing school she worked at Schultz Bros. and then JC Penney’s in Shawano. Following a wartime courtship with Eugene, or “Beltz” as she called him, and after he had graduated from the seminary in St. Louis as a Lutheran minister, the couple was united in marriage on May 13, 1945, in Pella. They moved to an Army ammunition depot, Igloo, near Provo, S.D. After the war ended and Igloo was disbanded, the couple moved to Parker, S.D., where her husband continued his ministry and Bernice worked in the office of an electrician. In 1948, Bernice moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where her husband became the pastor of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, their two sons were born, and Bernice worked in a sporting goods store and later a woman’s clothing store while raising the boys. Shortly after their daughter was born, the family moved across the country to San Diego, where Bernice’s husband became the pastor of Faith Lutheran. After four years, in 1966, Bernice and her family returned to the Midwest, where her husband accepted the challenge of beginning a new church in Janesville — St. Mark Lutheran Church, where she is still a member. Bernice shared her talents in the new church by playing the organ and singing in the church choir. She also enjoyed working in a woman’s clothing store for many years, volunteered at the Beloit thrift shop, and played the keyboard for devotional services.
Bernice loved the game of golf and played in several women’s leagues while enjoying the company of her golf friends. She closely followed the career of the local professional golfer, Steve Stricker. Bernice became an avid Brewers and Packers fan and would switch between TV channels to check on the baseball game, football game and golf match. She lived in Janesville for 45 years before moving closer to family in Clintonville.
Bernice is survived by her children, Steven (Kristy) Beltz, Clintonville, and Mary (Cliff) Petersohn, Georgetown, Mass.; daughter-in-law, Ellen Beltz (Tom) Trevarthen, Neenah; seven grandchildren, Brent (Stacey) Beltz, Amy (Andy) Eberhardt, Elsa Petersohn, Ethan Petersohn, Matthew (Ellen) Beltz, Leah (fiance Mike Del Gaudio) Beltz and Brooke (fiance Scott White) Beltz; and five great-grandchildren, Jacob, Liliana and Cordelia Beltz, and Spencer and Cole Eberhardt.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Eugene; a son, Dr. David Beltz; and her four siblings, Helen Perry, Ralph Engelhardt, Carol Engelhardt and John Engelhardt.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, at 11 a.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 2921 Mount Zion Ave., Janesville, with the Rev. Paul Speerbrecker officiating. Interment will take place at the Oak Hill Cemetery, also in Janesville.
Friends may call at the Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, 53 N. Main St., Clintonville, from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, and at St. Mark Lutheran Church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Memorials for Bernice may be directed to St. Mark Lutheran Church.
An online guestbook can be found at www.eberhardtstevenson.com.
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