Anita Faye Neuheisel

Anita Faye (Berg) Neuheisel, 96, formerly of Eau Claire, was welcomed into the arms of her savior Jesus on May 26, 2018 at Dove Healthcare in Rice Lake, WI. Anita was born to William and Faye (Davis) Berg on February 12, 1922 in Minneapolis, MN at St. Barnabas Hospital in the middle of a snowstorm and lived there until her senior year of high school, when her family moved to Eleva, WI. She graduated from Eleva High School and earned certification as an occupational therapy assistant from the University of Wisconsin in 1966. Anita’s first date with her future husband was VJ Day, and she left the door of her rooming house to the bells and sirens of the victory celebration. She was married to Norbert Neuheisel on Thursday, November 21, 1946 as a blizzard blanketed Eau Claire. The 10:00 a.m. wedding was attended by several hundred people from as far away as Washington DC. Anita loved and was loved by many people throughout her very full life. Anita lived her faith and interacted comfortably with people of all ages. She positively impacted all around her, sharing her talents and blessings and encouraging others in their life journeys. Anita described a perfect day as time with her beloved family and she characteristically expanded her world to include extended family. She loved family and friends, often putting their needs above her own. Wherever she lived her caring attitude, resistance to pre-judging, and quick wit were disarming and beloved by young and old alike and her relationships lasted for decades. She welcomed all cultures and races into her life. She often invited international students from the local college to share Christmas or Thanksgiving or Easter with her family. Immediately after high school she moved to Eau Claire, where she resided until 2017 except for a short time in Altoona, and for the past year in Rice Lake. From her early years she loved to sing and she freely shared that talent throughout her life. She worked first as a waitress at the Town Cafe, then a singing waitress at the Paradise Cafe when she was hired by the George King Trio. The band and their families became a second family to her and that special connection continues today. She performed with the band in the 1940s at popular local establishments such as Buck and Otto’s, then toured Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula Michigan. When war broke out she sang for the troops at Fort McCoy. After the war she again sang with the band and quite regularly at the Hotel Eau Claire where she was known as the “The Lovely Anita”. She also sang on the radio. In 1947 she sang on the Greenlight Jubilee and her voice was featured on a state promotion with the musical phrase “Hi, ho, come to the fair.” On Eau Claire radio in the 1950s she was on the Jack O’Farrell show and as part of the “Anita and Rita” show. In those years she also sang in minstrel shows at St. Patrick’s parish and helped with school fund raisers. In September 1953 she was the local winner of a National Broadcast Company (NBC) contest that qualified her to perform in New York City at NBC Studios. She placed third out of 13 performers from across the USA. In more recent years she combined musical talent with church ministry. She was active with People of Praise prayer group since 1971--at Sacred Heart, Saint Bede’s Priory and Immaculate Conception parishes. She was at various times prayer group leader, music ministry leader, teacher, mentor, leader of the Prayer 4 U prayer team, and organizer of Charismatic Renewal events. She was a member of Saint Patrick’s church from 1946 to 1996, Immaculate Conception until 2017, and, in 2018 while residing at Dove Healthcare, of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rice Lake. She was a lector at both Saint Patrick and Immaculate Conception parishes. She taught religious education at St. Patrick to second graders and to 10th graders at Immaculate Conception. At Immaculate Conception she was also bible study leader, catechist, communion minister, member of the parish council, ticket taker at fish boils, and member of the Immaculate Conception Ladies Society. She was invited to teach classes about baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit at regional and national Charismatic Conferences including Notre Dame in Indiana. In 2001 she completed intensive study in the Diocese of La Crosse Lay Formation Institute. She also worked in education and social services. During World War II she was a hospital aide at the Northern Center (then Northern Colony) in Chippewa Falls and returned there in the 1960s as a classroom aide and media specialist. She then worked for Cooperative Educational Service Agency 6 for 13 years, setting up the media center and serving as media specialist to schools and teachers through the region. After retiring from CESA in 1966 she continued to work until well into her 80s. She was an in-home care provider for Grace Foundation for both elderly and youth. Her clients had a variety of needs, and she found that, especially with Alzheimer’s patients, her music skills were helpful. She worked at the Family Christian Store, at K Mart as greeter and in customer service, as food demonstrator at Randall Foods and Mega Foods, and in recent years as greeter and cashier on dance nights at the Moose Club. She was also featured (since 1989) on various television spots for the Eau Claire County Aging & Disability Resource Center, Meals on Wheels, Royal Credit Union, and others. Anita used her talents to serve in many ways. She was a Girl Scout leader for 10 years and Cub Scout leader for three years. She maintained contact with many scouts throughout the years. She was an Eau Claire County Housing Authority Commissioner for 10 years, volunteered for the local Community TV station and was named Volunteer of the Year, and received a Golden Apple Award for community service in the Eau Claire area. She distributed Meals on Wheels into her 95th year at the London Square Apartments, where she lived for 17 years before moving to Rice Lake. She was feted at a farewell from London Square Apartments in September 2017. Organizers noted she regularly led songs and opening prayers for monthly birthdays and other resident events and was on the regular snack rotation for several years. At Dove in Rice Lake she served for a time on the Resident Council. Anita actively appreciated God’s creation. She loved, studied, and taught others about clouds, weather, skies, stars, rocks, birds, wildflowers and trees. She enjoyed travelling and after her retirement visited the Holy Land, Ireland, and family throughout the United States. She was an excellent seamstress and for much of her singing career designed and sewed her own formal dresses. Her favorite Bible chapter was her car license plate (PS117). She was pre-deceased by her husband Norbert, parents William and Faye Berg, and brother William K. Berg. She is survived by children Deborah (Michael Smith), Rice Lake, and Phillip (Melinda) Neuheisel, Milwaukee; sister Marilyn Holte and sister-in-law Bobbie Berg, both of Chippewa Falls; grandchildren, Heidi (Jason) Gumz and children Sebastion and Sabrina, Milwaukee, Joshua (Mary) Neuheisel and children Louisa, Christian, Amelia, and Clara, Baltimore, MD, Rachael (Oscar) Avila and children Elizabeth, Emmanuel, Gabriel, and Jacob, Brown Deer, and Alecia (Jim) Anderson and children Savannah, Piper, and Andrew, Colgate; Cory (Kate) Smith, Iron River, and Jessica (Zeus) Celi and daughter Zoë of Herndon, Va.; and “adopted” grandchildren including Amarillis (Christopher) Kodesh and children Sara and Christopher Matthew, Bellflowers, CA. She is further survived by many beloved nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends, many of whom were extended family. The family extends gratitude to staff and residents at Dove Healthcare-Rice Lake and the medical community of Rice Lake, Wausau, and Eau Claire for care and compassion during the last year. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, 2018, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 1712 Highland Avenue, Eau Claire 54701, with Father Don Meuret officiating. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 29, 2018, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and again one hour prior to the Mass. A Public Prayer Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at the church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Chippewa Falls. The family requests memorials be given to Immaculate Conception for youth projects or Hope Gospel Mission.

Service Information

Visitation

Friday, June 29 2018
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
1712 Highland Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54701

Public Prayer Vigil

Friday, June 29 2018
6:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
1712 Highland Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54701

Visitation

Saturday, June 30 2018
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
1712 Highland Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54701

Mass

Saturday, June 30 2018
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
1712 Highland Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54701