Bernice Whiteman

Bernice A. Whiteman, 95, of Onalaska, died on Friday, January 26, 2018, at the Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, after a brief illness.

She was born in La Crosse, Wis., on July 20, 1922, to Thomas and Victoria Burns. She attended Aquinas High School and Coleman Vocational School (now Western Technical College) where she learned and perfected secretarial skills. Bernice then moved to Chicago where she became a secretary to the Assistant to the CEO of Chicago Transit Authority. On January 20, 1945, she married the love of her life, Robert G. Whiteman (from Monterey, California) who was receiving aviation training at Great Lakes Naval Station during WWII.

After returning to La Crosse at the end of WWII, Bernice and Bob settled in Onalaska where he had partnership in Onalaska Hardware and Electrical. They had four children - Sandra Whiteman of Onalaska, Ronald (Cathy) Whiteman of Rosemount, Minn., Patricia (Sanjay) Gupta of Henderson, Nev. and Janet (John) Rundle of Onalaska. Bernice later worked at Trane Company for 21 years as head of Accounts Receivable. After retirement from Trane, she worked at Dayton’s Department Store until she was 78. She learned to play golf in retirement and enjoyed many golf excursions with Bob and friends although she admitted that she’d never make the LPGA. She also enjoyed volunteering at St. Francis Hospital gift shop where she indulged her love of jewelry and purchased many items from the shop for wear. She was known as one of the best dressed and coiffed women in town and instantly recognizable with her beautiful white hair and jewelry that coordinated with every outfit. She was much loved and greatly admired by her family, friends and many work colleagues.

In addition to her four children, she is survived by nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; sisters, Gladys, Lenore, Adeline and Kathleen; and brother, Thomas.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 30 ^th , at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1031 Main St., Onalaska. Rev. Maria Dass will officiate. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday at the church. Burial will be held in Mormon Coulee Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made on her behalf to the Shriner’s Children Hospital or Children’s Miracle Network. Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of Onalaska is assisting the family. Online condolences may be offered at www.schumacher-kish.com.