Beth Mack, age 93 of Clintonville, died Sunday, January 3, 2016 at her home.
Beth was a Canadian by birth, but an American by choice and was fiercely loyal to her adopted country. She grew up on the prairies of Manitoba, in Elm Creek southwest of Winnipeg. She was 23 when she traveled to Clintonville to see relatives, and met Charlie Mack. He was just back from serving in the army during World War II. Charlie was born in Saskatchewan Canada, and his family moved to Clintonville when he was a boy.
Beth and Charlie married and had three children, Madge (Mike) McLaughlin, South Bend, Indiana; Tom (Mary Ann) Mack, Menominee Michigan, and Sarah (Mike) Hankins, Clintonville, and an exchange daughter, Mari (Torgny) Hemming, from Sweden. She is also survived by her sister Dorothy Sisson, of Winnipeg Canada, and her sister-in-law Lois Mack of Plymouth, Ohio, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She was lucky to have so many good caring friends, and such wonderful caregivers who allowed her to remain in her home. Mrs. Mack was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Mack.
Beth exemplified the stiff upper lip attitude handed down by her English, Welsh and Canadian forbearers. She was practical, thoughtful, and a wonderful example of good manners and etiquette. Though she was a loyal American Citizen, her children learned the Canadian national anthem before they learned the U.S. National Anthem. She never spoke ill of people and disliked gossip. She continually reached out to people privately who were struggling financially, medically, or emotionally. She literally served for a time as Clintonville’s Official City Hostess. One of her favorite phrases was, “We are on go” meaning we are on the move and getting things done. She helped generations of Clintonville Area residents through over a half a century of community service. She believed in putting something back into her community, and she constantly lived that principle.
In the 1950s she served: as the 3rd President of the Waupaca County Homemakers Club and President of the St. Martin’s Ladies Aid Society.
In the 1960s she served: as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and Cookie Chairperson, and began her 20 years serving on the local AFS selection committee, (1965- 1985), and one year as an AFS host parent, (1964-1965).
In the 1970s she served: as one of the city’s first female alderpersons, for two terms (1979-1983). She also was first site manager for the then newly created Fox Valley Technical College site in Clintonville, (She held the post for over a decade through several site relocations). She also started the Charles Mack scholarship for parochial education and ministry at St. Martin’s Church
In the 1980s she served: on the Friends of the Library Board of Directors (1989-1991), and chaired a committee that raised $10,000 from Clintonville Schools’ alumni for a new library. She also served on the Stewardship Board of St. Martin’s Church (1987-1989), and re-organized the St. Martin’s School and Church Libraries
In the 1990s she served: as a volunteer for Clintonville’s Sesquicentennial, two terms as a Clintonville Chamber Ambassador, as an organizer and publicity chairperson for Clintonville Art Fair (1989-1991), on the Board of Directors and as Board Secretary for the Main Street Program. She worked as a hospice volunteer in Waupaca and Shawano Counties for many years beginning in 1996.
In the 2000s she served: as a member of the Clintonville Housing Authority Board, as a member of the board for Sun Valley Manor, as a continuing member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, as a volunteer with the Citizens Association for Recreation and Education (C.A.R.E.) and as a cataloging volunteer for the Clintonville Historical Society accessions committee. She was also recognized by the Rotary Club as Clintonville’s Volunteer of the Year for 2003.
May 26th, 2012 was proclaimed Beth Mack day in Clintonville by then Mayor Judy Magee as part of a celebration of her 90th year.
Memorial services will be held 12 p.m. Friday, January 8, 2016 at St. Martin Lutheran Church, Clintonville, with the Rev. Christian Burg officiating. Inurnment will take place at Graceland Cemetery, Clintonville in the spring. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Martin L.W.M.L, the Charles A. Mack Scholarship Fund at St. Martin Lutheran School, or the Clintonville Public Library.
The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, Clintonville is assisting her family. An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com.