Marian Calewarts
Marian R. Calewarts, 91, Bellevue, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. She was born in Bellevue on September 20, 1931, to the late William and Catherine (Heezen) VandenBergh as the fifth of fourteen children. Marian attended school through eighth grade at Spring Creek School, thereafter, helping out on the family farm in Bellevue until old enough to begin working at the Fort Howard Paper Company shortly after her eighteenth birthday.
On October 4, 1952, Marian married Leslie “Smokie” Calewarts, the son of the late John and Elizabeth (VanBellinger) Calewarts, at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church. He preceded her in death on August 4, 1997. She retired from Fort Howard Paper the following year to undertake a new career as a homemaker. Marian and Smokie were charter members of St. Bernard Parish and were proud that they had children in four different decades at St. Bernard’s School, with their eldest starting first grade in 1959 and their youngest graduating from eighth grade in 1983. She was very active in the Altar Society at St. Bernard’s as well as the Lenten fish fries during the early years of the parish. She also thoroughly enjoyed socializing with the families of Smokie’s co-workers at Green Bay Packaging, especially at the annual retirement dinners. Marian loved robins and cardinals.
She is survived by her nine children: John (Cathy) Calewarts; Jim (Lynelle) Calewarts; Rose (Robert) Gay; Pat Calewarts; Al Calewarts; Cathy Sellers (Paul Scholl); Charlotte Calewarts; Ron Calewarts and Ken (Jeanne) Calewarts. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Zachary, Jacob, Emily, Matt, Alex, Meredith (Bobby Crimi), Brian, Ellen, Allison, Katherine, Caroline (Joseph Zacharias) and John. She is further survived by her great granddaughter, Grace Rita Zacharias. In addition, she is survived by her siblings: Mark (Patty) VandenBergh; Bonnie (Jack) Baldschun; Joanne Weber; Elaine Srnka; Sister Patricia VandenBergh and Norma (Stanley) Gazella; one sister-in-law, Lynn (Mrs. Ray) VandenBergh.
In addition to her husband, parents, father-in-law and mother-in-law, she was preceded in death by her siblings and their spouses: Father George VandenBergh, S.V.D.; Arleen (Ray) Guns; Dorothy (Andrew) Rosek; Florence VandenBergh; Ben (Jean) VandenBergh; Peter (Joyce) VandenBergh and Ray VandenBergh; three brothers-in-law, John Srnka, Gene Weber and Dwayne Lokken; her husband’s siblings and their spouses: Dorothy (Harry) Frisque; Evelyn (Francis) Dittmer and Francis (Ann) Calewarts.
Friends may call at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 2040 Hillside Lane, on Thursday, October 20, from 9:00-10:45 am. Funeral Mass 11:00 am Thursday, at the church, with Rev. Mark VanderSteeg officiating. Burial in the Allouez Catholic Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to Marian’s family at www.prokowall.com
Memorials may be donated to Unity Hospice in Marian’s name.
The family would like to extend special thanks to everyone at The Courtyard at Bellevue for all of the care and companionship that was afforded her over the past many months. The family would also especially like to thank Dr. Sabina Singh at Bellin Health for the excellent medical care that was extended to Marian during her last years. Finally, the family would like to thank Ken and Pearl Schlies as well as all of Marian’s other Bellevue neighbors who were so kind and compassionate toward her after Smokie passed away. All of you, along with Mom’s siblings and their spouses, eased her final years and we are forever grateful.