Betty M. Wirth, 96, of Waukau, WI, passed away peacefully in her apartment at Oakwood Manor in Oshkosh surrounded by her family on January 7, 2023. She was born at home to Warner and Laura (Kafer) Bohn. Her love for bowling led to the love of her life, Melvin Wirth. They married September 3, 1951, at St. Mary Catholic Church of Omro and shared over 66 years together.
Betty grew up in the same building that housed her parents’ country general store in Waukau. Along with her five younger siblings, she attended Waukau Grade School from first through eighth grade, occasionally arriving to class on roller skates! She was a graduate of Oshkosh High School and the former Klippiner Business College of Oshkosh.
Betty worked for Bohn Implement and Bohn Farms her entire career, retiring at 90. She started out as her parents’ “right hand gal” in the Waukau store and, despite being a young woman, even drove tractors in the farm fields. Eventually, she “filled her Mother’s shoes” as the bookkeeper and store manager. As the years passed, Betty served as a caregiver to her Mother and Aunt Anna Kafer while still leaving time to whip up noon lunches for working family members.
Betty loved sparkles, but nobody sparkled quite like her. Whether she was eyeing the pastry section at the Piggly Wiggly, enjoying a carriage ride in Central Park, watching the soy beans sprout, serving as grand marshal of the Waukau Chicken BBQ Parade, or giving her grandchildren ATV rides around the farm, Betty’s zest for all things in life, big and small, was undeniable. A leader of the Koro Star 4-H club, she valued education and encouraged all her children and grandchildren to become lifelong learners, driven by curiosity, just as she was. Betty was a dedicated member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Omro for over 70 years serving on numerous committees, singing in the choir, and greeting patrons until age 90. Her adventurous spirit led her to travel the US and abroad with Melvin and friends. Betty brought light to everything she valued most: community, family, and faith (and every window of her house at Christmas).
Betty is survived by 4 children, Kay (Kevin) Lovell and their children Jaclyn, Christopher and Anne (Kevin) Lovell; Cindy (Alan) Parker and their daughter Laura (Steven) Fabick; Bill (Kathy) Wirth and their sons Nathan (Laura) Wirth, Matthew (Kristin) Wirth, Lucas (Becca) Wirth, and David (Sara) Wirth; and Mary (Thomas) Tully and their sons Ben Tully and Jake (Connor) Goggans-Tully. Betty was also blessed with 5 great-grandchildren: Leah, Kolby, Frannie, Evelyn and James.
Betty is further survived by two sisters: Loretta (Ed) Allen, Gloria (Michael) Smith, brother Douglas (Mary Ahonen) Bohn, sisters-in-law Mary Wirth and Laura Goll, and many loved nieces and nephews.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband Melvin, and her brothers and their spouses Donald and Dolores Bohn, Warren and Gloria Bohn and many beloved siblings and in-laws of Melvin.
In lieu of flowers or donations, please do an act of kindness in her memory.
The family would like to thank Oakwood Manor, Promedica Hospice and Bluestone Physician Services for their kind, compassionate and loving care.
A Private family service will be held at a later date.