Verona Neuenschwander

Neuenschwander, Verona Eternal optimist, independent thinker, and devoted wife and mother, died on June 11, 2013. Born to Swiss immigrant cheese makers in Randolph, Wisconsin, Verona maintained a close connection to her heritage throughout her life, participating in Milwaukee's Swiss cultural groups and cultivating a love of the country, cheese, and chocolate. Verona was a woman of integrity and substance. She was outgoing, cheerful, energetic, and had a playful sense of humor. A spirit of adventure led her to stand at the Great Wall of China, hike the Alps, kiss the Blarney Stone and experience a Hawaiian Luau. As a lifelong learner, there wasn't a subject that didn't interest her. In nearly twenty years as a Girl Scout leader, Verona shared her values of personal integrity and community service and the joy of sitting around a campfire eating s'mores, She loved gardening and flowers, singing, Halloween, pot roast, pan fish, and zwetschge kuche. Above all, Verona was a devoted, loving, nurturing, and supportive mother. She took an active interest in the lives of her children and grandchildren and loved them each uniquely and unconditionally. She taught her children to love nature, appreciate their Swiss heritage, honor their civic responsibility, have compassion for those less fortunate, and to keep quiet if they didn't have anything nice to say. Verona is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Edward; her children, Suzi (Jim) Schuenemann, Sequim, WA., Bob (Karin) Neuenschwander, Pullman, WA., Heidi (Ken) Kressin, Cannon Falls, MN., 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandsons. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in her name toward the purchase of a memorial bench at Boerner Botanical Gardens. Donations can be sent to FBBG, 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners, WI 53130