Elizabeth J Wanta
July 28, 1940 - February 17, 2026
Obituary
LIVESTREAM SERVICE:
Betty's Livestream Service will begin at 11:00 a.m. CT on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
STOUGHTON - Elizabeth “Betty” Wanta, age 85, of Stoughton, Wis., passed away peacefully to eternal life with her family by her side on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Betty was the first of six children born to Albert and Irene Pavelski on July 28, 1940. She was born into a farming family where she learned the value of working hard and playing hard and developed an inner strength that guided her throughout her life. Following high school, Betty moved to Milwaukee and soon met and married the love of her life, Bob. They spent the next 62 years growing and nurturing their family. They were blessed with four children, Deb, Don, David and Dan. Betty and Bob had the innate ability to balance discipline and love while growing their faith and leading by example. They created a lifetime of adventures together, from camping trips (sometimes in the middle of tornadoes) and days spent water and snow skiing, to cherished cabin stays in North Central Wisconsin and Bemidji, Minn., and family travels to Florida, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and the California Redwoods.
Betty was often so energized by being around others and by volunteering for several organizations including church, Christ Child Society and the Ronald McDonald House. Betty was a genuine and generous woman that loved to give joy to others, earning the title of “Fun Mum.” Bob and Betty retired to Naples, Fla., where they embraced the good life and created countless, unforgettable adventures with their grandchildren. Their days were filled with golfing, relaxing, socializing, thrifting, and mastering the art of Kohl’s Cash. Betty thrived in her talent for stretching a dollar and took great pride in her remarkable gift for negotiation. Despite living with great pain, she inspired so much fun, laughter and light-heartedness in the world.
She is survived by her loving children and their spouses, Greg and Deb Lessmeier, David and Julie Wanta and Dan and Deb Wanta; her loving grandchildren, Matt, Katie, Andy, Shelley, Janelle, Martí, Eric, Father Michael and Marcianna; a loving great-grandchild, Bennett; her siblings, Richard Pavelski, Elsie Hurlburt-Riedl, Pat Sanders and John Pavelski and their spouses; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; son, Don; parents, Albert and Irene Pavelski; brother, Bobby Pavelski; nephew, Jesse Pavelski; and four unborn great-grandchildren.
The family requests you consider donating to St. Ann Catholic School (stanns-school.org/donate). Or you may wish to have a Mass offered for the repose of Betty's soul.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. ANN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 323 N. Van Buren St., Stoughton, at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2026, with Father Michael Wanta and Father Randy Budnar presiding. A luncheon will follow in Healy Hall. Visitation will be held at the church at 9:30 a.m., with a rosary at 10:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Thursday. Burial will take place at RESURRECTION CEMETERY in Mequon, Wis., at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 27, 2026.
Betty’s family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Agrace HospiceCare for the compassionate care and support they provided and to all of the many visitors especially for those who brought her Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist. Their kindness allowed her final months to be filled with comfort and gave her the precious ability to continue loving and enjoying life. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St.
(608) 873-4590