Augusta Rose (Pulvermacher) Heggestad

Heggestad, Augusta Rose (Pulvermacher) MADISON - Augusta Rose (Pulvermacher) Heggestad, age 96, died as she lived, with grace, courage, confidence and good humor, on Friday, March 2, 2007. She was born at home on Dec. 17, 1910, in Johnsburg, to Edward and Anna (Schneider) Pulvermacher. After a few years living on a farm in Roxbury, the family moved to Sauk City where she attended both elementary and high school. The big city of Madison attracted her at age 17 and she never left. She married John Heggestad on Aug. 26, 1937. She was the last surviving charter member of the Madison Eagles Auxiliary No. 623 and was chosen as its first secretary when it was organized in 1937. She held that position for 13 years. She helped institute the Wisconsin State Eagles Auxiliary and was chosen as its first secretary as well. She was a life member of the Wisconsin State Eagles Auxiliarys Past Madam Presidents. During these years she sharpened her skills in euchre and in bowling, winning many trophies. While raising her family, she was employed as a dental assistant and then she worked at Print and Mail advertising for 17 years. After "retiring" she continued to work as a part-time mailing assistant at Aand A mailing, and in fact, was still working a few hours per week up until three weeks before her death. She was a long time member of St. James Catholic Church, and her faith continued to grow, especially in the last 10 years of her life. She lived with her daughter and son-in-law (Joan and Pat) for the last 13 months but prior to that lived alone. As recently as a few months ago, she won a small euchre tournament at home, and took a tidy $14.00 back to her room. A smoldering leukemia flared up and took her rather abruptly. She is survived by two daughters, Joan (Patrick) Ausse and Kay Heggestad (Paul Wertsch); and three grandchildren, Jennifer (David) Darby of Kansas City, Johanna Wertsch of Madison and Gregory Wertsch (Mark Ferrandino) of Denver. Her grandchildren made her eyes light up but her three great-grandchildren, Paulina Wertsch, of Madison and Chance and Addison Darby of Kansas City, out shined all other people in recent years. She is also survived by her brothers, Gilbert Pulvermacher of Sauk City, James (Patty) and Allan (Lucille) Pulvermacher of Richland Center; and two sisters, Mildred Adler of Middleton and Agatha (Cameron) Peckham of Richland Center; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Heggestad on Dec. 22, 1984; her twin sons, John Jr. and James; her parents; her brothers, Archie and Howard Pulvermacher; and a sister, Viola Pulvermacher. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1128 St. James Court., at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 with Monsignor Thomas Baxter officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday, March 6, 2007, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive. The family would like to give special thanks to her niece, Mrs. Barbara Guenther, and to Sister Priscilla Weber from St. James for their loving attention during the last several years and to the wonderful nursing staffs of 5 SW at St. Marys Hospital and Hospice during this final illness. If anyone would care to make a contribution in her name, the family suggests that it be directed to St. James Catholic Church, St. Marys Hospital or HospiceCare. We are already missing her humor, her charm and her wise advice. She had much more to teach us and even at 96, it was too soon to lose her.