Berniece M. Wagner, 85, died Wednesday, August 12, 2009, at Dove Healthcare in Eau Claire.

She was born on May 18, 1924, in Antelope County, Nebraska, the daughter of Max and Martha (Zutz) Wagner. 

Berniece graduated from the St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Rochester, MN.  She received a B.S. and Masters Degree in Nursing Education from the University of Minnesota.  She also did graduate work at the University of Washington in Seattle. 

Berniece was the first faculty member appointed to the School of Nursing at UW-Eau Claire when that program began in 1965.  She became chairman of the Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing in 1970, and in 1977 she became a full professor of nursing.
During her long career at UWEC, Berniece served on many committees that helped shape the lives of many students and faculty.

Before coming to UW-Eau Claire, she was associate professor of nursing at University of Kansas.  She also worked as an instructor of nursing at the University of Iowa College of Nursing.  Her other positions include being the head nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN; staff nurse at the Nebraska Psychiatric Center; and Director of Nursing at the Lutheran Hospital in Norfolk, NE.

Berniece is survived by her brother, Loyd (Donna) Wagner. M.D. of Sioux Falls, SD; her nephews, John (Karen) Mangels, of Winside, NE, David (Sally) Wagner of Boulder, Colo., Steve (Mary Jo) Wagner of Cupertino, Calif. and Michael (Paula) Wagner of Sioux Falls, SD; her niece, Kathy Pieplow of Boulder, Colo.; and a number of grandnieces and grandnephews.

Berniece was a member of many organizations, including the ANA, WNA, NLN, Gerontological Society, and the American Association for the History of Nursing.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Herbert Wagner; and two sisters Esther Wagner, and Irene Mangels.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, August 17, 2009, at University Lutheran Church in the Ecumenical Religious Center on the campus of UW-Eau Claire, 110 Garfield Ave. Eau Claire, with Pastor Alan Buresh officiating.  Burial will be at a later date in her hometown of Norfolk, NE.  Family and friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until the time services at the church.  Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family.

Special thanks to the 1st floor staff at Dove Healthcare for their care&compassion during Berniece's stay.

Memorials are preferred to the Berniece Wagner Nursing Scholarship Fund, c/o the UWEC Foundation Office, P.O. Box 4004, Eau Claire, WI  54702 or www.uwec.edu/fndn.