Bernice "Barney" Ellen Vavruska

Bernice "Barney" Ellen Vavruska, of Antigo, died Sunday, Jan. 4 at Evergreen Terrace. She was 85 years old.She was born May 12, 1923 in Grant, WI, the daughter of Fred and Clara (Pitts) Kalkofen. She married Edward John Vavruska on Oct. 26, 1957 in Dubuque, IA. He survives.Mrs. Vavruska graduated from Antigo High School in 1942. At the onset of World War II, she attended vocational school for welding and machine shop. She worked at a tank factory in Long Beach, CA before returning to Antigo.She worked at Service Dry Cleaners, and owned and operated Dog and Suds. She was also a homemaker.Mrs. Vavruska was member of Calvary Lutheran Church and the Business and Professional Women.She was instrumental in getting the Clara McKenna Aquatic Center built. She and her husband were honored with the naming of the Vavruska therapy pool. Survivors, in addition to her husband, include a son, Dennis (Joan) Cline of Antigo; 1 sister, Janet (Max) Gay of Moultrie, GA; 3 brothers, Gerald (Hazel) Kalkofen of Green Bay, Robert (Shirley) Kalkofen of Mexico, MO, and Lloyd Kalkofen of Manitowoc; 2 grandchildren, Jennifer (Jason Thoma) Cline of Fairbanks, AK, Curtis (Jennifer Forbes-Cline) Cline of Washburn, WI; step great grandson Jared Thoma; and uncle Clarence Kalkofen of Antigo.She is preceded in death by 2 brothers, Fred and Leon "Teach" Kalkofen; 3 sisters in law, Madeline, Margaret "Scottie", and Ruth Kalkofen.