Verna A. Simonson

PORTAGE –  Verna A. Simonson, age 79, of Portage, passed away on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at the home of her daughter, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer.

Verna was born on October 7, 1931 in Portage, the daughter of John and Evalina (Betts) Bartels.  She was married to Clayton C. Simonson on October 21, 1950 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lewiston Township. Verna was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Portage.  She enjoyed the outdoors, spending time playing bingo and gambling, and most of all, spending time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her children, Wanda Simonson, Marshfield, Velma (Steve) Helgerson, Portage, Deborah Simonson, Portage, Sharon Cook, Marshfield, Clayton (Deborah) Simonson, Jr., Portage, Carl Simonson, Portage, Daniel (Lori) Simonson, Portage, and Patricia (Tim) Dover, Wyocena;  eleven grandchildren;  eight great-grandchildren;  her sister, Wilma Pfuehler, Portage;  three sisters-in-law, Marie Bartels, Portage, Wilma Bartels, Wyocena, and Donna (Harold) Heitke, Portage;  other relatives and many friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Clayton, Sr., her brothers, Walter Bartels, Winston Bartels, Wallace Bartels, Wilbur Bartels, Darwin Bartels, and William Bartels, and her sisters, Evelyn Schumann, Nellie Lanstra, Wilda Stensrud, Velma Bartels, and Verda Johnson.

Funeral services will be at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 25, 2011 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, with the Rev. Dick Inglett officiating.  Private inurnment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery at a later date.  Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Portage.

The family would like to thank Home Health United Hospice and Homeward Bound for all they did for our mother.