Georgiane Cecelia (Koenigs) Bentzler, 99, Marshfield, passed away on Sunday, October 18, 2026 at Marshfield Health Services.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, November 13, 2026 at St. John's Catholic Church in Marshfield with a PCCW rosary at 10:00 am followed by visitation until the time of service. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Georgiane was born March 26, 1927, in Malone (Fond du Lac County) Wisconsin to John and Cecelia (Guelig) Koenigs. She married on June 22, 1963, to Donald James Bentzler at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She graduated from Omro High School in 1944 and received Bachelor of Science degree from UW Oshkosh (Oshkosh State Teachers College) in 1948. She attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin and received Master of Arts in Library Science in 1957 from Vanderbilt University (George Peabody College), Nashville, Tennessee.
Georgianne served as school librarian in various Wisconsin communities including Bear Creek, Berlin, Beaver Dam, Green Bay, Cedarburg and Marshfield. Prior to coming to Marshfield in 1963 was a guest lecturer at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, in the Department of Library Science. In 1965 she became Library Director at the University of Wisconsin - Marshfield/Wood County Campus, retiring in 1989. During that time she also taught Public Library Administration for the University of Wisconsin-Extension.
She was a past member and officer of the Wisconsin Library Association; past member and officer in Wisconsin Valley Library Association; member and officer of Sigma State (Wisconsin) Delta Kappa Gamma Society and Chi, Gamma and Alpha Psi chapters; member and officer in Marshfield Area Retired Educators; and member of St. John's Catholic Church and PCCW.
Her greatest joy was spending most weekends and vacations with family and friends at their cottage on Pier Lake (Oneida county) from the opening of fishing season through the end of hunting season and some Christmas holidays, for 35 years. Her other hobbies included volunteering, knitting, crocheting, cross word puzzles, playing bridge and watching Brewer, Packers and Wisconsin games.
Following retirement, she and her husband traveled extensively throughout the U.S including Alaska and Hawaii, Canada, the Caribbean and wintered in Florida, Arizona and Idaho for several years. She also volunteered as librarian at North Wood County Historical Society (Upham Mansion); tutored for Wood County Literacy Council; St. Vincent De Paul Christian Library and St. Joseph's Hospital Library and served on the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of La Crosse Diocese.
She is survived by children Lori (Doug Roe), Twin Falls, ID and Thomas (Jody) Bentzler, Suamico, WI; grandchildren Mackenzie, Kylie Rose and Hannah Jo Greenawald, Twin Falls, ID; step-grandchildren Danielle Roe (Paul Catsaros), Boise, ID, and Michael Roe, Burley, ID; step-great grandchildren Rylon Roe, Boise, ID and Kaya Roe, Burley, ID.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband Donald, her parents, a brother Andrew, sisters Pauletta (Polly) Reigh and Justina Basel, step-granddaughter Michelle Roe, and brothers-in-law Carl Reigh and Donald Basel.
Memorials can go to St. John's Catholic Church Foundation; UW Stevens Point at Marshfield Foundation for Hamilton Roddis Memorial Library or scholarships; or Marshfield Clinic Foundation.
Condolences may be sent online at www.rembsfh.com
