Beverly (Pals) O'DONNELL

ODONNELL, PALS, COOPER, HOFFMAN, LONG, GATZKE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/15/2016 at 18:48:38

January 18, 1948 ----- January 10, 2016

Beverly "Bev" O'Donnell, age 67, of Wisconsin Rapids, WI passed away Sunday, January 10, 2016 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, Wausau, WI. Funeral Services are 11:00 AM Friday, January 15, 2016 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Rev. Mark Miller will officiate. Visitation will be at Ritchay Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids, WI on Thursday from 4:00-8:00PM and also on Friday at the Church from 10:00-11:00 AM. Burial at a later date.

Bev was born January 18, 1947 in Belmond, IA to Johan and Ann (Cooper) Pals. She graduated from Belmond High School in 1966 and then obtained a nursing degree from Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, IA in 1969. Bev married Brian O'Donnell on August 15, 1970 in Belmond, IA.

Bev's career started at Iowa Methodist Hospital, then went to Ellis Fischel Cancer Center at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Bev then moved onto to Washington County Hospital in Washington, IA and later to the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, IA. Bev and Brian then moved to Wisconsin Rapids, WI where she was a nurse at Riverview Hospital and later was an advanced oncology certified nurse specialist at the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Bev retired from nursing on April 13, 2013.

Bev enjoyed flowers, floral gardening, antiquing, shopping and always enjoyed the annual special week with family and friends at the Lake of the Ozarks. Most importantly Bev loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Bev loved being a nurse and her caring and compassion for each patient carried over to her role as a loving wife, mother, sister and friend. Bev's motto was one of always putting others first. Bev also loved cooking and no one ever left the house hungry.

Bev is survived by her husband of 45 years, Brian; two children, Amy (Derek) Hoffman of Waunakee, WI and Brent (Olubunmi) O'Donnell of Denver, CO; three grandchildren, Allie, Devin and Xenos; sister, Susan (Ted) Long and their daughter, Kaitlin of Leawood, KS; "adopted family Mary Jo, Eric and Jack Gatzke and her loving dog, Maggie. Bev was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Gary Pals.

"Bev will be remembered as a person who put others first, whether family or friend and her compassion for everyone was evident in everything thing she did. Bev will be deeply missed by all."

Ritchay Funeral Home -- Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune -- Wisconsin Rapids, WI
January 12, 2016