Obituary for Bergene Wilcox

She was born September 29, 1936, in La Crosse, to Leslie and Myrtle (Larson) Kastenschmidt. Bergene grew up in Fish Creek and graduated from Bangor High School as Valedictorian of her class. On April 30, 1955, she married Theodore “Ted” Wilcox at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Bangor. They moved to Janesville, Wis., where she was employed as an executive secretary for Parker Pen Corporation.

In the early 1990’s they moved to rural Sparta where she worked at Northern Engraving and then Gage Corporation.

Bergene was an active member of the Bangor Gardening Club and Bangor Lions Club. She enjoyed going on car rides, attending car shows, playing cards, collecting, but most especially, shopping.

Bergene and Ted shared 67 years of marriage until he preceded her in death in November of 2022.

Survivors include her son, Steve (Pat) Wilcox; grandchildren, Scott (Elizabeth) Wilcox, Shane Schlaefer, and Shannon Wilcox; two great-grandchildren, Cameron and Addison Wilcox; sister-in-law, Juanita Wingfield (Herman); brother-in-law, Phillip (Sue) Wilcox; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

In addition to her husband, Bergene was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Lewis Kastenschmidt.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Bangor Chapel, Hwy 162 and Hattan St., Bangor. Pastor Jonathan Schmidt will officiate. Burial will be in Burns Cemetery at a later date. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m., until the time of service, Saturday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Bangor Lions Club.

Online condolences may be offered on this website.