Faye Marie Bidwell

Faye Marie Bidwell, age 92, of Cedar Crest, Janesville, died on December 19, 2023. She was born to Walter and Hazel Schmidlkofer, in Chilton, WI, on August 2, 1931. She moved with her family to Janesville in 1943 so that her brother and sister could attend the State School for the Blind and Visually Handicapped and live at home. She graduated from Janesville High School where her fondest memories were of the many friends she made in Drama Club and the performances she played in, including Mama in “I Remember Mama.”

Before attending college, she worked as personal secretary to the CEO of the Schlueter Company. She then attended the beautiful College of Saint Teresa in Winona, MN for two years then transferred to The University of Wisconsin-Madison where she studied for one year but did not graduate. She met her husband-to-be while they both worked for Libby, McNeil and Libby during the summer. After he received his law degree, Theodore Bidwell and Faye were united in marriage at First Congregational, United Church of Christ, Janesville, on August 1, 1953, where Faye worked as Director of Christian Education for two years.

The marriage was blessed with two daughters, Jane Ellen and Ann Marie. Together they cherished their many camping trips to Northern Wisconsin and eight trips West, camping in every National Park west of the Mississippi.

With daughters in high school and college, Faye completed her own college education at UW-Whitewater, graduating with high honors at age 43. She taught school full and part time until she retired, during which time and after, she and Ted continued to travel to Europe many times and to sail with Holland America to distant shores.

She enjoyed Church activities including Guild and teaching Sunday School, AAUW, Woman’s Club (Past President), bridge, reading, sewing, gardening, and treasured playing games and being with her grandchildren, Wyatt and Lucia Hyzer.

When Ted's health declined, Ted and Faye moved to Cedar Crest where Ted died two years later in 2014.

She is survived by her daughters Jane (Marcia Engebretsen), of Hayward, WI and Ann (Jim) Hyzer of Janesville and their children Wyatt of Madison, WI and Lucia of Janesville, her sister Karen Wolter, of Green Bay and her children, Charles (Christie), Alan (partner Julie), and Richard (Alison).

She was preceded in death by her husband, brother (Thomas), nephew Peter Wolter, and brothers in ¬law, Donald Wolter, Jim Bidwell, and Walter and Marian Bidwell.

The family wishes to thank the staff and volunteers at Cedar Crest, and Agrace HospiceCare, and all the wonderful people who gave Faye such loving care in her final hours. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Congregational UCC, or Agrace HospiceCare.

A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 30 at FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UCC, 54 S. Jackson St., Janesville, Rev. Gayle Tucker officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. HENKE-CLARSON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY is assisting the family. Online condolences are welcome at www.henkeclarson.com.