Beverly J. "Beve" Androsky-Baker

Beverly Jane “Beve” Androsky-Baker, 72, lifelong Superior resident, died Monday, March 18, 2013, at 5:55 p.m., at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Hospice, Duluth, surrounded by her loving family following a brief illness.

She was born Sept. 17, 1940, in Superior, to Irvin and Claudine (McGill) Mossberger.

Beverly’s true heart and soul was caregiving. She was employed in the area as an LPN for many years, including St. Mary’s-Essentia Health and Superior Memorial Hospital since 1977, along with years of service at Colonial Terrace, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Moose Lake Hospital, and as a personal night nurse. She was well-known for her compassion and care of her patients.
She was also a former union president.

She was the co-owner and operator of the famed Apollo Inn by Pattison Park and the former Superior Auto Body of Superior.

Beve was a pioneer in the sport of skydiving, being a member of the United States Parachute Association for 45 years.
She was the co-founder of Superior Skydivers and helped carry that business to its next generation 54 years later.
She celebrated 50 years since her first jump Dec. 7, 2012.
In the early 1960s, she was invited to Canada to become the first female sport parachutist that country had seen, dubbed as Wisconsin’s Lady Skydiver and was treated like royalty.

In 1977, she was decorated with her Gold Wings marking 1,000 jumps. At that time, she was only the 47th woman issued that award. She also had her private pilot’s license.

Her home is full of trophies won in skydiving, mostly by beating out men in the once male-dominated sport.
Beve played on many competitive softball and bowling teams, placing in state tournaments. She enjoyed golfing and playing volleyball for the anchor bar.
Beve was a fighter in what she believed. In the 1970s, she marched on Washington with the National Organization of Women for equal rights.
She recognized the power of voting and encouraged all to get out to vote.

In 1977, she was struck by a car, but fought back after months in the hospital and several surgeries, to continue her active lifestyle. She loved life and was a participant, not a spectator. Beve was passionate about everything, from Republican politics to Rush Limbaugh.
She rarely missed the 710 radio talk shows and enjoyed listening to Lew Latto. She was noted Superior Day's advocate.

In life, she brushed celebrity, from Gallagher the comedian to hanging with Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Anchor Bar the year they both attended UWS.
She once caught a silk scarf from Elvis at a Duluth concert, but another fan grabbed it out of her hand. She loved concerts and standup comedy.

Her favorite holidays were New Year’s Eve and Halloween; she loved to scare people. She never missed a birthday and always threw a party to celebrate.
She never forgot to call her kids on their birthday at the exact time of their birth. Plus she would bake an angel food cake with her special blue frosting.

Beve was a supportive hockey/softball mom and a fanatic for UWS hockey and Duluth Dukes. Many referees heard her voice. In the 1950s, she was a member of the Superior Blues Knothole Gang.
Beve was a saver and a collector, and loved finding a good deal.

She had a green thumb but loved the color purple. Her childhood memories of old movies at Superior theaters resulted from seeing her favorite “The Wizard of Oz” hundreds of times. She could answer any trivia question about the movie, and sometimes could be heard singing, “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” She never missed a Thanksgiving parade on T.V.

She married Kevin Baker on Sept. 18, 1987, in Bethel Lutheran Church and celebrated 25 years of marriage.

She was a lifelong member of Bethel Lutheran Church and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
She also was a member of the VFW Drum and Bugle Corps. She served as a superintendent of the Head of the Lakes Fair and enjoyed submitting her entries into judging.
She was a member of the American Cancer Society-Relay for Life team, and member of the Foster Parents Program of Douglas County. Her home served as a rescue house for several children in need in Douglas County.
She enjoyed volunteering on behalf of the children she served throughout her lifetime.

Beve’s home always had room for pets: many breeds of dogs (especially Yorkshire Terriers), rabbits, birds, a Shetland pony, and even a pet monkey named Willie in the 1970s.
After the monkey was donated to the Duluth Zoo, zookeepers would call Beve over to come sit with him to calm him in his times of distress.

Beve is survived by her husband, Kevin, Superior; two daughters, Amanda and Aleeah Baker, both of Superior; four sons, Charles, Jr., Mark (Jennifer), Michael, and Gary (Mia Schaapveld) Androsky, all of Superior; 10 grandchildren, Cody (Matt LaValley), Aaron (Kate), Mikey, Katlyn, Hayden, Ayla, Jack and Claudia Androsky, Skyler Homick and Jaxon Baker; four great-grandchildren, Caelyn Androsky, Mira Androsky and Cal and Chloe LaValley; sister, Barbara “Dubby” (Jack) Anderson, Hemet, Calif.; and brothers, Irvin (Carol) Mossberger and Gordy (Judy) Mossberger, both of Superior; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents and lifelong friend and cousin, Clara Gunderson.

VISITATION: 5 p.m. Friday, March 22 in Downs-LeSage Funeral Home, 1304 Hammond Ave., Superior where a 6 p.m. Order of the Eastern Star Service will be held.

Visitation will resume in Bethel Lutheran Church, 5821 John Avenue, Superior at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23 and continue until the noon funeral service.

Burial will be at Nemadji Cemetery, Superior.

Pallbearers for the service will be Beverly’s sons, Charles, Jr., Mark, Mike and Gary Androsky, and grandsons, Mikey, Hayden and Aaron Androsky and Matt LaValley.

Honorary pallbearers will be Anne Goodiel, Gina Rochon, Vicki Hammer and Sue Benson.

She loved her family and children held a special place in her heart.
She instilled a strong work ethic and had an offbeat sense of humor, but always allowed you to have your opinion, even if it wasn’t right.

Funeral goers are encouraged to wear purple or their favorite skydiving shirt.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made in Beverly's name to the American Cancer Society or Shriners Children's Hospital.