Joanna Mary Solterman Berkeypile

PORTAGE –  Joanna Mary Solterman Berkeypile (age 88) born to eternal life on December 11, 2012 after a long illness.    Special thanks to the patient, wonderful and caring medical staff at Portage Dean Clinic and Divine Savior Hospital.

Born in Marquette County, Montello, Wisconsin on September 9, 1924 to Jacob Matthew Solterman and Gertrude Mary Vaughn Solterman.   Raised on the Vaughn and Solterman family farms; graduating with the Class of 1942 from Portage High School.  Served her country by working at the Badger Ammunition Plant during World War II and again during the Vietnam War.  Also worked at the Alf Poultry Plant, Endeavor, Wisconsin, Kroger’s Egg Plant, Portage, WI, USDA inspector at various food plants and finally retiring from Ray-o-Vac, Portage, WI.  She never expected more from any worker than she herself could do, but of course, that was considerable.  Joanna worked hard and played hard.  She loved to travel in her healthier days and especially liked playing euchre as well as other card games with family and her friends at Deer Run Apartments.  She was a great cook and baker and loved hosting and attending large get-togethers with family and co-workers.   She spent much of her free time reading or tending her yard and gardens.  She was a former member of Catholic Woman’s Club, Portage.   Joanna attended St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Portage since 1969, but for many years also kept her membership at St. John the Baptist Church in Montello, which was her great-grandparents and parents home parish.

Joanna is survived by her  daughter Arlene Tollison (Gerald), step-grandson John (Erin) Tollison, step-grandson Allan Tollison (Rhonda), grand-daughter Cassandra Tollison Wittig Mender (Joseph) and Keegan Tollison and their children:  Ariel Tollison, Madisson and Sarah Wittig, Dylan, Devon, Desi and Isabella Mender.  Special Pets:  Tucker, Stripe and Ripples (fondly called “Tuna Fish”).  She is further survived by her sister, Rosalie Waldo and her  children:  Patricia Figueroa and Mary Saunders Winkler  (Donald) and their  children  Jeff Gilbertson  (Angela), Thomas  Figueroa  (Maureen) , Julie (Michael) Ostmann  and Jamie Winkler and their  children  Jacob and  Josie Gilbertson, Elena Figueroa, Erin Friend (Jacob), Miranda Dehn, and Hayley Ostmann.  Joanna was proceeded in death by her parents,  Jacob and Gertrude Solterman and grand-daughter Sarah Tollison , nephew-in-law Gilbert Figueroa, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and workmates.

A Memorial Funeral Mass will be at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Portage, Wisconsin,  on Saturday, December 15 at 10:30 a.m. with visitation one hour prior. Inurnment following at St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Hwy 22 North, Montello, Wisconsin. Reception following at Rivers Bend Resort.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Portage Public Library Campaign Fund, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Campaign Fund or St. John the Baptist Church. 

 

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know everything,
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times, you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes.  They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary, because it means you’ve made a difference.