Beverly “Bev” Gnewikow, 83, of Ontario passed away peacefully Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014, at her home near Ontario.
Bev was born Feb. 15, 1931, to Corwin and Garnet (Brey) Budde in rural Ontario. She married Clayton Robert “Bert” Gnewikow on June 11, 1949, in Dell, Wis. She farmed with Bert, along with working at Tillman Produce in Wilton, candling eggs. She later worked at MECA Sportswear for many years, and then at the Ontario Elementary School as a teacher’s aide, a job she really loved. She was a longtime member of the Royal Neighbors of America and the 131 Homemakers Club. She also was a member of the Ontario American Legion Auxiliary.
Bev’s greatest joy in life was her family. She was so proud of each and every one of them and loved them unconditionally. She was so interested and involved in their lives, from the babies to the adults. She loved being with her family and rarely missed an event or activity with them. She was the most caring and loving mom, grandma, great-grandma and friend. She made you feel like you were the most important person in the world, and in her eyes, you were. The world was blessed the day she was born. Now Heaven is blessed. Bev always had a smile and a kind word. She loved her friends and enjoyed doing things with them. She became friends with everyone she met. Bev loved to travel, especially by plane. Although she didn’t drive, she was on the go almost every day, thanks to family and friends. We would joke that she’s never home — but she really was. She’d respond with, “Well, I’m going to go when I get the chance; there might be a time I can’t.”
Bev was a wonderful cook and baker. She was known for her almost-world-famous potato salad and made it for her family and for other events. We loved her homemade noodles, bread, donuts and pie, and we can’t forget her cookie sheet cake. We were looking forward to her Christmas goodies of honey cookies, date pinwheels, icebox cookies, frosted Christmas cookies and divinity. She would have to make sure family and friends got some.
Bev loved music and loved to dance. She and Bert were excellent dancers. She terribly missed the old days of dancing together. (I’m sure that the first thing she did when she got to heaven is grab Bert and say, “Let’s dance,” and everyone will be watching them!)
Bev is survived by her five children, Diana (Dan) Giese of Norwalk, Debby (Gene) Cary of Viroqua, Dixie (Allen Cook) Mason of Florida, Dave (Bonni) Gnewikow of Ontario, and Doug (Tina) Gnewikow of Ontario; her grandchildren, Troy (Lora) Muller, Ryan (Jaime) Muller, Kelly (fiancé Jarrett Luethe) Giese, Brock (Morgan Murphey) Giese, Cade (Dionne) Cary, Cole (Maren) Cary, Cori (Jason) Fortney, Jorden (fiancé Link Buckles) Tosca, Hayden Gnewikow, Khrysa (Derek) Nofsinger, Dalton Gnewikow, and Alexis, Mackenzie and Clayton Gnewikow; her great-grandchildren, Jake, Stephanie, Carly, Claudia, Sydney, Sienna, Ashton, Baby Kennedi (expected soon), Braxton, Brogan, Brecken, Cannen, Boden, Regan, Corwin, Eric, Madisyn, Jadyn, Masyn, Case, and Brantley; a sister, Nancy Plucinski of Tomah; a sister-in-law, Marge Gnewikow of Sauk City, Wis.; along with nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, an uncle and friends, who were all special to her.
Bev was preceded in death by her husband, Bert, in 1990; her parents, Corwin and Garnet Budde; her in-laws, Ortwin (Short) and Grace Gnewikow; and her brothers-in-law, John Plucinski and Ortwin Gnewikow Jr.
Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at Mount Pisgah Wesleyan Church in rural Ontario. Pastor Bob Streeter will officiate. Burial will be held at a later date in Hilltop Rest Cemetery. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 12–3 p.m. Sunday at the church. Honorary pallbearers will be Troy Muller, Cade Cary, Ryan Muller, Cole Cary, Hayden Gnewikow, Brock Giese, Dalton Gnewikow and Clayton Gnewikow. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Ontario is assisting the family with arrangements.
