Bertha I. Wallace's Obituary
Mount Pleasant - Bertha I. Wallace passed away on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at her home in Mount Pleasant, Racine County, Wisconsin.
Bertha was born in Deerfield Township, Waushara County, Wisconsin on September 2, 1927, the oldest of eight children born to the late Metta (nee Starks) and Edward R. Bohn. She was raised on a farm in Deerfield and entertained her family with stories of her life during that time. She attended schools in Hancock, Wisconsin and met her future husband, the late Harry R. Wallace Sr. at Hancock High School.
Quite the athlete in her day, one of her favorite stories was striking out Harry during a baseball game at school. Following Harry’s return from serving in the Navy during WWII, Bertha and Harry were married at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Berlin, Wisconsin on August 30, 1947. Bertha and Harry lived for a brief time in Hancock before moving to Racine in the late 40s searching for employment.
Bertha and Harry put down roots in Racine and began raising a family building their first house on
S. Fancher Road near the Spring Street intersection. In 1963, they sold the Fancher Road house and built a new house on Prairie Drive near Washington Avenue. Bertha lived most of her remaining life and passed away in this house. She also lived for three years at Lincoln Manor on Sixteenth Street.
Bertha enjoyed family gatherings and flower gardening. She was a member of Church of the Redeemer and Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church, Daughters of the American Revolution and The Mayflower Society. She was employed at various times by Steeles Restaurant and Russell Mfg. in Berlin; Follett Bank in Hancock; and LaPour Real Estate and Manpower in Racine.
Bertha is survived by her brother, Emil (Janet) Bohn of Neshkoro, Wisconsin; sisters: Joyce Nowacki of Princeton, Wisconsin and Sandra Parks of Eagan, Minnesota; five children: Harry Jr. (Linda) and Kathryn Newman of Racine, Gloria (Michael) Hyduke of Sheboygan, Turner of Chippewa Falls and Andrew of Mesa, Arizona; six grandchildren: Alison Newman of Racine; Brian Wallace of San Marcos, California, Jessica (Howard “JR”) Moran of Huntington Beach, California, Bethany (Jason) Alvey of Fresno, California, Amanda (Anthony) Thornsen and Scott Wallace of Tomah, Wisconsin: and three great-grandchildren: Sean, Rory and Colin Moran of Huntington Beach, California.
Bertha was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of sixty years, Harry Sr. who died in 2007; brothers: Martin and Arnold; and sisters: Lois Erdman and Arlene Schilf.
A Celebration of Bertha’s Life will be held on Monday, May 14, 2018 at the Wilson Funeral Home beginning with a visitation from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at 11:00 A.M. Committal service and interment will be held at West Lawn Memorial Park on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. Please meet at the entrance. Condolences may be shared at www.wilsonfuneralhomeracine.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Bertha?
What’s a lesson you learned from Bertha?
Share a story where Bertha's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Bertha you’ll never forget.
How did Bertha make you smile?
