Bernice A. Vanish died Friday, July 20, 2012, of a stroke in Bellin Hospital in Green Bay. She was attended at her death by her daughters, Judith V. May from Washington, DC, and Joanne V. Creighton and her husband, Thomas Creighton, from Philadelphia, PA. She is also survived by one grandson, William Troy Creighton, and his wife, Lisa. She was preceded in death by five brothers, Steve, Frank, Edward, Johnny, Aloysius and two sisters, Helen and Ann. Bernice was born in Necedah, Wisconsin, on June 21, 1915, and she grew up in Beaver, Wisconsin, on the farm of her parents, Albert and Margaret Blachowiak. As a young girl, she went to Chicago to work in private homes; later she returned to help her brother in the family Red Owl store in Beaver. She married William J. Vanish on October 24, 1936, who preceded her in death on September 15, 1993. The couple lived in Pound, Wisconsin, where Bill was a State forest ranger and oversaw the construction of the ranger station. For years, they lived on the second floor of the ranger station until they built a home near St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Pound. Bernice owned and operated a beauty shop from the time that her children started school—first in the Pound Hotel and then in her own home. She took great pride in her skill as a hair stylist. Her shop was a center of social activity, and she made many women happy because, in an emergency, she could always be convinced “to squeeze someone in.” In her shop, Bernice could be counted on to transmit news of her daughters, who both attended Coleman High School and the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Judy received her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley and recently completed a 33 year career in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Joanne received her Ph.D in English from the University of Michigan and recently completed 14 years of service as President of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. She currently is serving as interim president of Haverford College in Philadelphia. Her daughters’ accomplishments are a tribute to their mother who was not permitted to attend high school by her parents who felt that education was not for girls. When Bill retired, Bill and Bernice built a house across 17th Road from Left Foot Lake. In Pound, she organized the dining room for church dinners. In Crivitz, she was a member of the Women’s Club and participated in other volunteer activities. She could always be depended upon for a ready smile and cheerful conversation. She will be missed. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on July 23, 2012, in St. Mary’s Church in Crivitz, Reverend Walter Stumpf, officiating. Burial will take place in St. Mary’s Cemetery. A lunch and reception will be held at St. Mary’s Hall following the burial. Rhodes-Charapata Funeral Home in Crivitz assisted the family. You may visit www.rhodescharapata.com to express condolences and view a video tribute.