Alice M. Bue

PORTAGE –  Alice M. Bue, age 90, of Portage, formerly of Beloit, died on Thursday, May 24, 2012, at American Way in Portage.

Alice was the third in a family of nine children born to Charles and Margaret (Sowatzke) Wells on July 28, 1921, in Shirland, Illinois. This position in life made Alice an independent and strong willed individual.  Alice always had a real sense of fairness and a willingness to help others which were traits and qualities she passed on to her children.

Alice was married to Lester A. Bue on November 15, 1941 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Beloit, where together they built a life together around their family and friends for more than 65 years.  Shortly after their marriage, Les enlisted in the army at the beginning of WW II.  Before being sent overseas, Alice was able to join Les briefly in California.  On January 6, 1944 Alice and Les had a son, Leslie James, who died at birth.  Leslie remained forever cherished in their hearts.  Later they were blessed with three children, Charlene, JoAnne and Russell.

Alice was a homemaker and stay at home mother throughout her children’s formative years, devoting her life to raising her children.  At this time, she took a number of classes at Beloit Vocational School.  The knowledge she learned she shared with family and friends.  One of the classes was knitting and Alice taught many to knit;  even her own mother who was in her 70’s at the time.  When her three children were grown, Alice went to work for J.C. Penney and later to Ace Hardware, becoming head cashier.  She enjoyed the people she worked with and the rapport with the customers.  After retiring, she and Lester remained in Beloit until 2008, when they moved to Portage until her time of death.

Alice is survived by her three children, Charlene (Robert) Svihel, Lake City, MN, JoAnne (Martin) Genrich, Portage, and Russell Bue, Janesville;  four grandchildren, Jeffrey Svihel, Natalie Dock, Nicole (Jason) Perkins, and Eric Bue;  three great-grandchildren, River, Cale and Lauren;  her sisters, Dorothy Dequtis, Josephine Bishop, Betty Cook, and Margaret “Peggy” Huseman; her brothers, Charles “Bud” Wells, and Jim Wells;  her sister-in-law, Ruthe Wells;  many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband Lester in 2007, her son, Leslie, her parents, her brother, Arnold Wells, her sister, Arlene Wald, her mother- and father-in-law, and seven siblings of Lester.

Alice lived with vascular dementia in her later years.  She was so much more than the disease.  Even though she may not have known her three children, her maternal instincts remained strong.  She would often call out the names of Les, her children and other family members.  These instincts became known when two years in a row Alice knew Charlene, JoAnne and Russell on their birthdays, even though she did not know them before and after their birthdays.  Along with family, Alice’s friends meant much to her. She loved people, conversation and a good cup of coffee.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church in Poplar Grove, south of Clinton, WI, with Pastor Tom Groth officiating.  Burial will be at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday in Floral Lawn Cemetery, South Beloit, Illinois.  Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at the church.  The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to all the staff at American Way for the wonderful care that Alice received, and her hairdresser, Carole Petzke, for keeping her looking her best.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Rusch’s We Care Fund, c/o Rusch Elementary School, 117 W. Franklin St., Portage, WI  53901 or Bethlehem Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, W8267 Highway 33E, Portage, WI 53901.

Good wishes may be sent to the Family of Alice Bue, c/o Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Homes, 430 W. Wisconsin St., Portage, WI  53901.

“No time on earth is long enough to share with those we love or to prepare our hearts for that last good-bye.”  By Alaire Tennille