Obituaries

 

Vernelle M. Baertsch

PORTAGE  --  Vernelle M. Baertsch, age 96, of Portage, passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at the Columbia Health Care Center in Wyocena.

Vernelle was born on November 14, 1916 in Woodlake, California, the daughter of Edward and Selinde (Wedel) Goering.  The family moved to McPherson, Kansas, where she was raised in the Moundridge and McPherson area, where she and her family were involved with the Eden Mennonite Church.  Vernelle graduated from McPherson High School and attended Central College.  She worked for the Farmers Alliance Insurance Company before moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she worked for the R. H. Siegfried Insurance Agency.  She was married to Frederic D. Baertsch on January 25, 1946.  He preceded her in death in 1988.  Vernelle worked at the County Highway Patrol, which later became part of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department, and retired after 20 years of service.  After retirement, she and Fred wintered in Port Isabel and South Padre Island, Texas for many years.  During that time, Vernelle loved cross-stitching and made many large quilts, and donated one each year to the United Methodist Women Bazaar.  Religion was very important to Vernelle, and she was an active member of the Portage United Methodist Church.  She belonged to the Women’s Civic League of Portage, Wauona Womens Club, and her Bridge Club.

She is survived by her grandson, Ryan F. (Jamie) Baertsch, Caledonia Township, and his mother, Shirley Baertsch, Portage;  two great-grandchildren, Betty and Wyatt Baertsch;  her daughter-in-law, Jeanne Baertsch, Portage;  her step-granddaughter, Michelle Dehn, Portage;  several nieces and nephews, other relatives and close friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Fred, her son, Rick, her brothers, Wilmer (Kay) Goering and Winston (Margaret) Goering, and her sisters, Lorena (Daniel) Goering, and Ellen (Robert) Bates.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at Portage United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Tom Countryman officiating.  Burial will follow in Welsh Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, and on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. at the church.

Memorials may be made to the Columbia Health Care Center or the Portage United Methodist Church.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Columbia Health Care Center for the excellent loving care given to Vernelle.

 

Obituaries
For information please call 608 742-2126 (Portage, WI) or 608 635-2763 (Poynette, WI)