OREGON - Beverly Lynn “Bev” Mares, 68, of Oregon, passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack on Thursday, March 17, 2022, while vacationing in Arizona. She was born on Aug. 5, 1953, in Madison, the daughter of William and Bernice Fisher.

Beverly graduated in June of 1971 from Belleville High School. She started working for the State of Wisconsin-Department of Public Instruction on July 12, 1971, until going to Oakhill Correctional Institution in October of 1976. Beverly transferred to Wisconsin Correctional Center System in February of 1990. She transferred back to Oakhill in May of 1996. She retired on Aug. 6, 2008, after 37 years with the state. While at Oakhill, she met the love of her life, David Mares, and they were married on May 21, 1983.

Bev was a longtime member of the Oregon Presbyterian Church and was active as a deacon, liturgist and longtime supporter of the local food pantry program. She also volunteered at the Second Harvest food bank and the Brat Fest in Madison. Other volunteer efforts included hospice and several liver and kidney organ donation events.

On July 11, 1994, her dad's birthday, Bev received the gift of life through organ donation. Bev and her family were all blessed by the gift of life given to her by Melissa Norquist of Chippewa Falls, Wis. Bev's family extends a very special thank you to her parents, Mark and Patti Norquist, for their life-saving gift that gave us all 28 extra years of life with Bev. How can we ever thank them?

Bev struggled with many health issues in her life, but she always found the strength to fight through them until God finally called her home on her mom's birthday and her dad's special St. Patrick's Day. Only Bev could get a new liver on her dad's birthday and enter heaven on her mom's birthday.

Bev will always be remembered for her endless generosity and her golden heart.

Bev is survived by her husband of 39 years, David; her sisters, Barbara (Paul) Moser of Monroe and Bonny (Ed) Engen of Eagan, Minn; nieces and nephews, Brian (Lori) of Cottage Grove, Traci Moser of Huntington, Ind., Todd Moser of Clinton, Wis., Travis (Leslie) Moser of Oakfield, Brittany Moser (Michele) of Jacksonville, Fla., Brooke Engen of Burnsville, Minn., and Drew Engen of Albuquerque, N.M.

Bev was preceded in death by her parents, William Fisher on Oct. 13, 1987, and Bernice Fisher on Aug. 19, 1970.

A funeral service will be held at FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 408 N. Bergamont Blvd., Oregon, at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, 2022. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON OREGON FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 1150 Park St., Oregon, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, and at the church from 12 noon until the time of the service on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bev’s name may be made to the University of Wisconsin Organ Donation Program either online (supportuw.org/giveto/otd) or by mail with checks made to: UW Foundation Transplant Greatest Needs Fund, UW Foundation, U.S. Bank Lockbox 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278-0807, the Oregon area Food Pantry or the First Presbyterian Church of Oregon would be appreciated by her family. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Oregon

Funeral & Cremation Care

1150 Park St.

(608) 835-3515

Beverly Lynn Mares

August 05, 1953 - March 17, 2022

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