Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 70 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Brian Bement
Brian W. Bement, 70, of rural Augusta passed away very peacefully at his home on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, with his wife, sister and nephew by his side. For the last 3 weeks of his life, his transition was made so much easier through the visits of so many friends and relatives and the tender care of St. Joseph's Hospice.
Brian Walter, son of Earl and Marion (O'Brien) Bement, was born January 1st, the first baby born in Eau Claire in 1947. Brian started reading at an early age, and after kindergarten, went into the second grade at St. Patrick's Grade School. He attended Regis High School and graduated from Memorial High School in 1964. He was united in marriage to Mary Jo Wagner of Eau Claire, and to this union their sons were born. Over the years Brian worked in retail and as a self-taught pictorial billboard painter, working for Naegle Outdoor Sign in Minneapolis and ABC Outdoor in Milwaukee. After his marriage to Maureen Anderson on Dec. 5, 1987, he worked with her at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta.
Brian was born with a very creative and artistic talent. He also freehand painted on signs, buildings, cars and trucks. One of his favorite projects while at Naegle was painting the Zamboni machine for the Minnesota North Stars hockey rink to look like a six-pack of beer. He enjoyed designing logos for T-shirts and also designed the Augusta logo, which is displayed on the banners that line the streets of Augusta during the summer months.
Growing up, the Bement family enjoyed the summer months at their cottage on Lake Eau Claire, and when given the opportunity, he moved to the lake permanently in the early 1980s. He spent countless hours improving the landscape, remodeling and building his homes. He especially enjoyed woodworking and was a gifted finishing carpenter.
If you knew Brian, you knew how much he enjoyed snowmobiling and four-wheeling, taking many trips up north and out west with family and friends. During the winter months, he was always planning the next trip, and he cherished the friendships that he made through the sport. Brian was also in his element when he was entertaining large groups at his home. He truly enjoyed experiencing the joy children had while playing in the lake.
Brian will be dearly missed by Maureen "Rene," his wife of 29 years, and sister, Catherine "Cotsy" Jones of Eau Claire and her family. He is further survived by sons, Bob, Chris and Bill and their families; step-son Trenton (Tawnee) Berg and Asa; brother Joel (Rosemary) Bement; Aunt Patty O'Brien; nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and his extended Abbott Northwestern family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Marion; step-father, Frank Romano; siblings, Greg "Mouse" Bement, Victor Bement, Susan Jacobs; son, Aaron Bement; nephews, Jeff Jones, Peter Bement, J.R. Bement, Jr., and Victor “Spike” Bement, Jr.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, March 1, 2017, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and from 10 to 11:00 a.m. Thursday at St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic Church in Brackett. A funeral Mass will be held Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at the church with Father Derek Sakowski officiating. Burial will be in the West Lawn Cemetery in Augusta.
Since May of 2011, Brian had spent a good share of that time at Abbott Northwestern Heart Hospital in Minneapolis. The care he was given and the friendships he made there will never be forgotten. No words will ever be able to express our appreciation and gratitude to all the doctors, nurses and other staff working there. A special thank you also to St. Joseph’s Hospice, especially Roxeann, Beth, Leah, John, Maryanne and Wendy. There is a special place in heaven for all of you.
