Bernice C. Vankouwenberg

Bernice C. VanKouwenberg of North Fort Myers, Florida, age 91, passed away on April 2, 2011 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Bernice was born October 2, 1919 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Herman and Ida Luedtke. She married Milton Kloth of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1940. They were divorced. In 1950 she married Arthur Altenburg of DeForest, Wisconsin. They farmed and worked hard together. Bernice had three children when she married Art ? Judith, Sandra and James. She and Art had three children together, William Willie, Holly and Marianne. Arthur passed away in 1969. Bernice worked as a waitress, in a floral/greenhouse and then as head of Central Records Department of American Breeders Services ABS Global in DeForest, Wisconsin until her retirement. She moved to Cape Coral/Ft Myers, Florida area with her sister, Ruth and brother-in-law, Art. Bernice met her husband, Robert Rob VanKouwenberg in Florida. They were married in 1985. For many years, they spent summers in Upstate New York and winters in Florida. Family was very important to Bernice. Her children and their families visited Florida regularly and Bernice made many trips to their homes all over the United States. One of Bernice?s hobbies was crocheting and she was always working on an afghan or another crochet project. She made and gave away hundreds of afghan quilts or other items, including hot pads and Christmas tree ornaments. Everywhere she went, she traveled with her crochet hook and some yarn. Her hands were always busy. After Rob passed away in 2004 she became an active volunteer two days a week with her Church at the Soup Kitchen in Fort Myers, Florida with her friend, John Isaia. This job was one of the great pleasures of her life. Bernice is survived by her six children, Judith Hayward, Parachute, Colorado; Sandra Michael McConnell, Madison, Wisconsin; James Deb Kloth, Arlington, Wisconsin; William Sharon Altenburg, Ft Collins, Colorado; Holly Rick Gray, Blue Springs, Missouri; and Marianne Altenburg of Rio, Wisconsin. She is survived by 22 grandchildren and their husbands and wives and 28 great-grandchildren. She was so very proud of her family. She was preceded in death by her sister, Ruth; brother, Ervin and parents, Herman & Ida Luedtke. A Celebration of Life Gathering will take place in later May or early June 2011 in Madison, Wisconsin. Bernice has been cremated per her wish and will be buried at the DeForest Christian Faith Moravian Church Cemetery with Arthur.