Nona Catherine Wirth of Greater Bass Lake was called to her heavenly reward on April 6, 2017 at the age of 88.
Nona was born in Antigo, Wisconsin on August 12, 1928, the only daughter of Homer Beattie and Catherine (Culbertson) Beattie. For unknown reasons, Nona was not named on her birth certificate, and was alternatively called Catherine or Honora as an infant. However, by the time she was in her teens, she and her family settled on Nona, largely because her mother was Catherine and maternal grandmother was Honora.

Nona’s mother died shortly before Nona’s 13th birthday. After that, she was raised by both her father and her mother’s sister, Florence (FoFo) and husband Harry Frederick. As a result, her cousins Paul Frederick and K Frederick Aulik were like additional siblings, and for the rest of their lives, Nona maintained a close relationship with them and their families.

Nona attended high school in Antigo and Wausau, but moved to Dallas, Texas, with her father in her senior year. After graduation, Nona moved back to Wausau, and then to Antigo.

In 1962, Nona met her best friend and the love of her life, Otto Wirth. They married on April 24, 1963, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Nona treasured her Faith. She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Antigo for much of her life. She was very proud that she and Otto sacramentally confirmed their marriage vows at St. James Catholic Church in Mequon on April 11, 1980.

Nona was a dedicated wife and mother. She devoted her life to caring for and supporting Otto and their five children. It was a busy, full time and challenging job. She was a hard worker. Recently, she remarked that she took the most pride in the fact that all five of her kids ended up being good people, and that each had done a good job raising her or his own children.

Nona and her family lived in a variety of places around Milwaukee, primarily in Cudahy and Mequon. Since a short stop in Texas, and Otto’s retirement in 1990, Nona and Otto have split their time between Bass Lake and Florida.

Nona was a world traveler, having traveled throughout the United States and extensively in six of the seven continents. No matter where she went, however, she always looked forward to returning to her home on Bass Lake, a place she firmly believed was the most wonderful place in the world.

She was a voracious reader, played golf, and water skied until she was almost 70. She enjoyed knitting and needle work. She bowled when she was younger. She looked forward to her bridge games, was always up for a game of Spite and Malice, and was excited by casino trips. Nobody made better Christmas cookies. She loved wine, popcorn, fireworks and pontoon boat rides. She had many close friends among the women around Bass Lake. She never missed Packers games, even when she could no longer see the television. And Nona was crazy about her grandkids and great grandkids.

For the last several years, she was addicted to a marbles board game that Catherine and Greg Magyera invented. She took great pride in beating all challengers (particularly Otto).

And it is important to mention her sixth “child,” the most recent addition to her family – her dog Snickers.

Nona is survived by her husband Otto; their children and their spouses: Catherine and Greg Magyera of Mesa, Arizona, Richard and Phyllis Wirth of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, John and Stacey Wirth of Mequon, Robert Wirth of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Janet and Brian Fussell of Sussex; 11 grandchildren Stephanie (Ryan) Semanko, Adam (Nicole) Magyera, Joseph (Jody) Wirth, Matthew Wirth, Jennifer (Zachary) Nichols, Katie Wirth, Victoria Wirth, Erin Wirth, Cameron Evans, Emily Fussell and Michael Fussell; eight great grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Wirth (widow of DonaldWirth) and Delores Wirth-Meyer (widow of Robert Wirth); 23 nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends. Last, but not least, she is survived by Snickers.

Nona was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers and their wives: Homer John and Evelyn Beattie of Norman, Oklahoma, Bernard “Buzz” and Nancy Beattie of Antigo, and Richard and Margaret Ann Beattie of Merced, California; Otto’s siblings and two of their spouses: Richard and Geraldine Wirth of Manitowoc, Donald Wirth of Antigo, Janet and Roy Plamann of Neenah, and Robert Wirth of Wausau; two nephews; one niece; and numerous other relatives and friends.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 11 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church 415 6th Avenue, Antigo with Nona’s friend Rev. Charles Hoffmann officiating. Burial will take place at Queen of Peace Cemetery.

A visitation will be held on Sunday at Bradley Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. with a parish wake service at 6:30 p.m.