Beverly (Lange) Mielke, 93, passed away peacefully in Berlin, Wisconsin, after an extended illness. Beverly was born in Racine, Wisconsin, the daughter of Irving and LaVerne (Schlevensky) Lange. She graduated from the city’s Washington Park High School in 1950 and remained a fan of the school’s sports teams and musical groups throughout her life.
Beverly was an active, lifelong member of Epiphany Lutheran Church where she was a member of the Home Guild for many years. She used her creative talents to design and sew a variety of colorful banners to help decorate the church for special holidays and occasions. The most important event in her church membership came when she attended a youth bowling mixer at Friedens Lutheran Church in Kenosha and met the love of her life, Alan Mielke.
After that first meeting, Alan told a friend that he was going to marry that girl. On June 28, 1952, Alan Mielke and Beverly Lange said “I do” at Epiphany. The couple was blessed with two children. Beverly is now reunited with Alan who preceded her in death on December 26, 2021.
Beverly is survived by her son, John, and his wife, Patricia, of Sturgeon Bay; her daughter, Judith, and her husband, Donald Kirby, of Wautoma; her grandson, John I. (BJ) Mielke, and his wife, Renee Tourdot, of Racine; and her cousins Russell Schroeder of Park Falls, and JoEllyn (Seelman) Heinkel of Brookfield.
After high school, Beverly worked at Webster Electric Co. in Racine until she was married. Beverly was a really good cook, and she could knit, crochet, and sew with the best of them. She also enjoyed reading – especially books about history.
But above all, Beverly was a sports junkie. Football, baseball, hockey, basketball – and at the top of the list the Wisconsin Badgers and Milwaukee Bucks. Beverly saw the Bucks during their inaugural season at the Milwaukee Arena. She looked forward to each game on TV and if the Bucks weren’t on, well then, the Bulls or Knicks or Heat would have to do.
After living most of their lives in Racine, Alan and Beverly moved to Wautoma in the mid-1990s. She enjoyed the views from their lakefront home, made sure that birds and squirrels were well fed, and gladly looked after grand-doggies and grand-kitties which she dearly loved.
Beverly will be remembered as someone who cared more about others than she did about herself. Beverly’s family thanks the doctors, nurses and staff at ThedaCare in Neenah and Juliette Manor in Berlin for kind and considerate care.
Since 2019, Beverly was a resident at Heartland House senior living community in Wautoma where she made many friends and even took some of their dimes and quarters during spirited bingo games. To the team at Heartland House, the words “thank you” fall incredibly short of expressing the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for helping Beverly enjoy life.
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