Obit: Berg, Mary Beth (1947 - 2022)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Berg, Dean, Wellens, Kunjukutty, Michaud

----Source: Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 2/25/2022

Berg, Mary Beth (5 December 1947 – 18 February 2022)

Mary Beth (Wellens) Berg, age 74, passed away peacefully, on February 18, surrounded by friends at the Tomah Hospice Serenity House in Tomah.

She was born on December 5, 1947, to George and Bernice (Dean) Wellens in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. She is predeceased by her parents.

After high school graduation from St. Mary Springs in Fond du Lac, she attended UW-Eau Claire where she obtained a degree in Sociology; and CVTC earning a degree in Police Science. She was a member of the Eau Claire Police Department and the first female patrol officer. She was recognized at the state level by the VFW as an Outstanding Police Officer in 1979. Before being a police officer, she was an animal control officer, aka "dog catcher." She often teased that her specialty was dogs, cats, bats, birds, and butterflies! In 1988 she travelled with the International Association of Women Police (men are members too) on a police cultural exchange to China, and 1990 to Russia.

In 1991 she left law enforcement and worked with the Native American Title V Education Program in the Eau Claire public schools. In 1994 she became a criminal defense investigator for the State Public Defender's office in Black River Falls, and Baraboo. After retiring, she was hired by Turtle Island Bead Store in West Baraboo and rediscovered a love in her life: Beads! Mary Beth loved to "play" with her beads. She taught beading and made jewelry selling it at different shows. She enjoyed doing things with family, friends, and her feline family: Bodacious, Pooh, Rascal, and Miss Tiff.

Mary Beth would like to thank all those wonderful people who touched her life both knowingly and unknowingly.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 5, 2022, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Neillsville. Fr. Biju Kunjukutty of St. Joseph Parish in La Crosse, WI, and Fr. Greg Michaud of St. Mary Catholic Church in Neillsville concelebrants. Visitation will be 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 5th at St. Mary Catholic Church.

In lieu flowers, please make a donation to a Humane Society or any animal rescue organization.

Online Condolences May be made at www.geschefh.com.  The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Mary Beth’s family with funeral arrangements.

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