Alberta Carlene (Siewert) Doverspike

With a huge smile on her face, Mom is now singing with the angels, playing in the heavenly symphony and directing a majestic choir.
Alberta Carlene (Siewert) Doverspike passed on to be with her friend Jesus Christ on January 26, 2012. She was born July 22, 1916, in Wisconsin Rapids to the late Otto and Bertha (Lucht) Siewert. Her three older brothers, Otto, Donald, and Gilbert Siewert, and her half-sister Edith Siewert also preceded her in death. She attended school in Wisconsin Rapids, graduating from Lincoln H.S. in 1934. Along with taking summer school classes at UW Madison, she attended North Central College, Naperville, IL, getting her Bachelor of Music Education and minor in English and History in 1940.
Alberta married the late Franklin Wayne Doverspike in 1940 and moved to Johnstown, Pennsylvania to live on a small farm with her in-laws, the late Robert Royal and Anna Estelle (Hannenkrat) Doverspike. There they began raising their four sons: Wayne, Kim, Dennis, and Randy. In addition to caring for her family and running the farm, she had a very active musical career which included teaching piano and violin lessons, and singing in and directing the choirs at the Salix EUB Church. One of her favorite family traditions with her sons was baking thousands of Christmas cookies and giving them as presents to family and friends.
After moving back to Wisconsin in 1957, she continued her education throughout the next decade by attending many summer school classes through UW Madison, UW Oshkosh, Ripon College, and Lakeland College.
She started her teaching career in the Menasha school system, teaching grades 1-12 from 1957-58, then at both Menasha High and Butte des Morts Jr. High from 1958-63 and only at Butte des Morts Jr. High from 1963-66. In 1966 Alberta moved to Winneconne and taught vocal music at the Winneconne middle school and high school until 1974. Many of her students, madrigals, choirs, and other groups, would advance to the state level during solo and ensemble competitions. She was an excellent teacher, director, and accompanist and was loved by her students and other faculty.
After all these years working with the "older" kids she decided to go back to the elementary level to teach the "younger" kids the fundamentals of music. From 1974 until her retirement in 1981 she taught 1st-5th grade students the basics of music. She also started group and individual piano and violin lessons. She accumulated a dozen or so pianos with donations from people, groups, and various music stores in the valley and put them all in her classroom so she could give lessons to many students at one time. She also did this with her violin students. Many of those students went on to be fine accompanists and musicians in high school and beyond.
Alberta directed many church choirs in the area including the Congregational Church in Appleton, the First EUB Church in Neenah, and First Presbyterian Church in Winneconne. Whenever special music was needed at any kind of service, she would always be there to lend her talents. She also played her violin in the community symphonies of Appleton and Oshkosh
In 1984 she moved to Neshkoro to live with her oldest son, Wayne, on "The Farm." There she could enjoy her other passions, mowing the lawn and working in the gardens. If she wasn't in the kitchen cooking, you could find her outside on her tractor or pushing the mower. She also continued her love of music by playing the organ and piano and singing in the choir at Zion United Methodist Church in Neshkoro where Wayne is still the choir director.
A decline in her health in 2004 required a move into Bethel Home in Oshkosh where she lived until she passed away. She always had a smile on her face and a reassuring word for everyone there. She made a lot of friends, and helped other residents get through their own troubles. Alberta's family would like to give a very sincere thank you to the staff at Bethel, especially to "the girls" who took such good care of her, Bob who kept her musically involved, and Laura who kept her active. Thank You!!
Surviving Alberta are her four sons and daughters-in-law, Wayne and Sarie, Neshkoro WI; Kim and Judy, Republic MO; Dennis and Darlene, South Bend IN; Randy and Pat, Winneconne, WI; grandchildren, Brian (Becky), Chad (Sara), Ty (Michelle), Amy Alberta, Heidi, Darin (Laura) Doverspike; Dawn (Cary) Vallery; and Amy Elizabeth (Bill) LaBelle; and great-grandchildren, Brenna, Carlee, Ellie, Colton, Ryan, Angelisa, Trevor, Tisen, Mia Marie Doverspike, and Easton LaBelle.
Visitation will be held at Mueller Funeral Home, Winneconne on Thursday February 2, 2012, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Friday February 3, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at Zion United Methodist Church in Neshkoro with Pastor Aaron Alfred officiating. A visitation time will be held on Friday at the church from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Inurnment will be in Wisconsin Rapids.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial is set up in Alberta's name.

Mueller Funeral Home
904 E. Main St.
Winneconne, WI 54986
(920) 582-4242
Please submit online condolences to
www.muellerfuneralhomeinc.com