Beverly G. Wolff

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

This was how Beverly Gail Lenore Larson Wolff started each day, stepping out her door to be part of God's creation, lifting her hands up to the sky. On May 22, 2009, Beverly was lifted up on eagle's wings to be with her Lord.

Beverly was born on June 29, 1930 in St. Paul, Minnesota, the youngest child of Elmer A. and Alice Wolner Larson. She grew up in Minneapolis with her sister Elaine and brother Lowell, surrounded by more than a dozen aunts and uncles and 54 cousins in a close extended family in the Twin Cities and on family farms in southern Minnesota. Beverly was confirmed at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in 1945, and graduated from South High School in '48. She worked as a dental assistant in Golden Valley and downtown Minneapolis. Elaine's husband was killed in a plane crash, so Bev moved in to help care for sister's infant son, Craig. In the five years they lived together, the sisters took tango dancing lessons, and Bev roller skated in Minneapolis' famous Aquatennial Parade.

In 1954 Beverly met Glen Wolff who had come to Minneapolis to work for Home Mutual Insurance Company. They married on December 11, and moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where their first daughter, Kathy, was born the following year. Sue was born there in 1957. In 1957 the family moved to Appleton, Glen's home town, where Carol was born in 1959. As the girls grew up, Beverly was active as a parent/leader with all of the things the girls were involved: Sunday school, Brownies and Girl Scouts, school committees, music, and AFS, sewing uniforms, costumes, and prom dresses and becoming chief driver to lessons and practices. The family took camping vacations all over the country, one year with Glen putting 6, 000 miles in three weeks on their Ford station wagon towing a camper out to California and back. Bev's favorite trip took them to the coast of Maine and the rolling hills of Vermont. Beverly and Glen joined Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in 1969, where she was active in Junior League, Deborah's Circle, Naomi's Circle, WLCA, and the prayer chain. After Glen retired in 1991, the couple traveled to Alaska, Arkansas, Texas, and California, and spent nine winters enjoying the white sands of Destin, Florida. In 2004 Bev and Glen celebrated 50 years of marriage. Beverly also lived with emphysema for more than a quarter century, facing each stage of loss and advanced disability with courage and resilience. Despite her health, Beverly shared a broad and generous smile with everyone she met.

Beverly is survived by her loving husband Glen, Appleton; daughters Kathy (Gary) Procknow, Neenah; Susan (Mark) Larsen), Mankato, MN; and Carol (Blake) Bartosh, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; grandchildren Kevin Procknow, Holly and Dan Larsen; and her favorite companion (next to Glen), Bobby, the bob-tail calico cat. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Lowell Larson, Oxnard, CA, and grandson Scott Procknow, Neenah.

A Funeral Service in celebration of Beverly's life will be held 12:00 noon Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2330 East Calumet Street, Appleton. Rev. Gary Nokleberg will officiate. A time of visitation and support will be held at the church on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Beverly will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery.

A memorial fund has been set up at Prince of Peace in Beverly's name.

The family extends deepest thanks to the staff of Cherry Meadows for their truly loving care of Beverly and our family while she resided there. Thanks also to all the volunteers who helped her, especially Sue Schini and Christine Cornell. The help and support from our church
is deeply appreciated.

Wichmann Funeral Home
537 N. Superior Street
Appleton 739-1231