Avery Mistlebauer

Madison – Avery Bevry Mistlebauer, 87, passed away on November 14th, 2021. She graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1952 and Columbia School of Nursing in 1955. She worked in Rhode Island, Michigan, California, and Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, she worked at WPS in medical review. Avery enjoyed genealogy, dancing, reading, and Tai Chi. She was a former member of the Wisconsin and Dane County Genealogy Societies. Avery was married 65 years to Robert C. Mistlebauer.

Avery was preceded in death by; Her parents; Her Husband; Son, Scott; Brother, Sygurd Bevry; Brother-in-law, Karl Mistlebauer; and Sister-in-law, Kathleen (Lawrence) Hartl.

She is survived by; Her son, Shaun (Jonelle) Mistlebauer; Brother, Dean (Bev) Johnson; Sister-in-law, Kay Mistlebauer; Daughter-in-law, Kristine Mistlebauer; and other cousins, nephews, and nieces. Avery makes special mention of her Grandchildren; Craig (Whitney) Mistlebauer, Stacy (Josh) Pauley, Robert Mistlebauer, Merriam Mistlebauer, Austin Rezantes-Mistlebauer, and James Rezantes-Mistlebauer. Along with her Gret Grandchildren; Zuri Lockhart, Ami Mistlebauer, Charles and Vivienne Mistlebauer, and Maci Rose Zantrow.

"Born August 29, 1934. That year was the lowest population on record. My mother was not expected to live with infection, and I was cared for by my grandparents, Florence and Yngve Bevry. My mother survived and we all lived on the Bevry farm in those depression years.

We later lived in Sturgeon Bay and then moved across the bay to the Sawyer side. My education was varied between two city schools and the county Evergreen School. I later went into nurses training at Columbia Hospital in Milwaukee. I did not know they wore square nurses’ caps until I started school. Not what I had expected.

During WWII my dad sailed the Great Lakes and sent home boxes of funny books and we expanded our reading abilities a lot from them. My mother took in boarders who were inspectors at the shipyard.  We lived near the railroad tracks, and we fed any hobo that came by asking for food.  My mother took a first aid course with a lot of other ladies. I was used as the patient and had about ten bed baths in 2 hours. We saved tin foil and grease. Walked with our heads down searching for anything metal. In the county school we gathered milkweed pods by the gunny sack for the pilots in the war for their Mae West life vests.

In the meantime, I was in Girl Scouts, took dancing lessons and went to birthday parties at the homes of cousins to Bob.  We were in Sunday School and high school together. I do not remember ever not knowing him. His car ran out of gas the night he proposed, and we had to push it to the gas station! We were engaged 3 years before we married. I was in training and Bob was in the Navy. We saw each other only 21 days during those three years. Lots of letters were exchanged.

Sons, Scott and Shaun arrived and gave us a few headaches, much joy and lots of laughter. We changed locations a lot because of various military and job assignments. I learned from all the different nursing situations and people involved. All in all, it’s been a great trip and I look forward to the next lessons to be learned.

May your days ahead be filled with kindness and love."

by Avery Mistlebauer, April 2013

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday December 17, 2021 at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3325 E. Washington Ave. Madison.  Burial will be at Highland Memory Garden.  Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until the service at the funeral home on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, please kindly make a donation to Agrace Hospice.

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service

3325 East Washington Ave.

Madison, WI 53704

608-249-6666