Bernice Holmquist

Madison - Bernice "Bea" B. Holmquist, age 96, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at Agrace HospiceCare surrounded by her family. She was born on December 14, 1918 in Oshkosh, the daughter of Mary Jungwirth. Bea belonged to St Vincent Church and graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1937. On January 30, 1943, Bea married Corwin "Corky" Holmquist in Coral Gables, Florida. Corky preceded her in death on October 26, 2008.
Bea was a self-taught expert seamstress and an accomplished knitter who would mentor anyone who needed help. She could be found planting and weeding in her flower beds and garden as soon as the weather was warm enough to turn the soil. She was the queen of cookies, baking almost daily to keep up with the demand. Her family would stop in the pantry to sample her cookies before coming in to say hello and always left with a full container. She played games of nickel rummy with her sisters whenever they were fortunate enough to get together. Bea loved to walk and could often be found walking around her neighborhood greeting her friends and picking the tops off dandelions in everyone's yard. Family was the most important thing to her and she was a loving and caring mother and granny.
Bea retired from the Madison School System after 20 years working in Food Service at Cherokee Middle School and West High School. Her faith was a very important part of her life and she was a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish, joining in 1969.
Bea is survived by her children, Karin Schmidt, Kris (Keith) Jamieson, Karleen (Paul) Kleemann, Kurt (Kimie) Holmquist, Karla (Skip) Haywood, and Kent (Tami) Holmquist; grandchildren, Julie (Tom) Felser, Tom Kline, Mark Kleemann, Aaron Kleemann, Jeung Hwa Danto (Andrew), Mi Jeung Holmquist, Jeung Bok Holmquist, Kristin Haywood, Craig Haywood, and Kate Holmquist; and great-grandchildren, Jack Felser, Alyssa Felser, and baby Danto due April 13.
The family would like to thank the staff at Avalon Assisted Living for making our mother feel at home in the community after moving from her home of 45 years. The staff at Meriter Hospital 11th floor HV unit provided compassionate care to our mother during her hospitalization. Also our appreciation to the staff at Agrace HospiceCare for their loving and expert attention to Bea in her final hours of life. We appreciate Dr. Mary Thompson for providing health care and personal attention to our mother over the years. Bea lived in the Hollister Avenue area amongst a group of wonderful people that included her in their lives and looked out for her welfare.
Private family services were held. Memorials are suggested to Arthritis Foundation (indicate Research on memo), 10427 W. Lincoln Avenue, Suite 1300, West Allis, WI 53227; or Blessed Sacrament, Senior Lunch Program, 2116 Hollister Avenue, Madison, WI 53726; or Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711. We love you and will miss you ... "that's the way it goes".
Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434
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www.cressfuneralservice.com