Jennifer Bitner has passed away after a short struggle with bladder cancer. She was born on June pt 1970 in Marshfield, Wis., daughter of Jean Bitner {Ronchi) and Thomas E. Bitner.
Jennifer graduated from the hearing-impaired program at Wausau West High School in 1988. Although Jenny suffered from numerous health issues, she was a bright light to all who knew her. She will be missed by those close friends and family members whom she enjoyed spending time with. Jenny was a world traveler, during her lifetime she journeyed to all fifty states, many of them several times. She also travelled to five continents, taking several trips to Europe to visit with families in both Italy and Finland where she made lifelong friendships with long forgotten relatives. One of her favorite trips was to Australia and New Zealand where she was able to hold a koala bear and enjoyed the other exotic animals of that region. Several of the trips resulted in unique experiences such as rafting down the upper Colorado River, meeting the real Maria Von Trapp, shaking hands with Jimmy Carter in Plains Georgia and being in the same restaurant as her music idol Jon Bon Jovi. Jennifer’s love of popular music was unmatched by any of her friends. Despite her hearing loss she had a fanatical and diverse love of music. Her taste changed with the passing decades. During the 70s it was the Sound of Music plus Happy Jack by the Who music group. She was soon an avid Cheap Trick and The Police fan. She also enjoyed Def Leppard, Guns and Roses and Sting. She attended numerous concerns during her short lifespan. She was an ardent fan of Bon Jovi who she would listen to during her later years.
Jennifer was also an active member of the Marshfield Lions Club for several years.
Jennifer is survived by a loving brother Thomas, her father, her partner; Richard Savage and stepmother Carole Radeztsky along with numerous aunts and uncles plus cousins. Her mother predeceased her as did all her grandparents.
No service is being planned; however, a celebration of life will be held on Oct. 25th in the Everett Roehl STEM Building at the University of Wis Stevens Point Campus in Marshfield (2000 West 5th street, Marshfield Wi) between the hours of 1:00-5:00.
We wish to thank St. Croix Hospice staff, lnclusa staff members Lizzie and Kristen and a special thank you to Kara Adams for the excellent care given to Jennifer during the last years of her life, but most significantly I wish to thank her brother who always provided care, encouragement and support throughout her life
