A longtime Wisconsin educator who was at the forefront of sports for young girls and women in the 1960's and served on the state's WIAA high school athletic board in its formative years has died at the age of 70.

Beverly Jeanne (Hartung) Noltner, of Lake Nebagamon, died Monday, May 23, 2011.

Born July 27, 1940 in Cuba City, Wisconsin, Bev was a graduate of St. Rose Catholic Elementary School, Cuba City High School and University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and health in 1962. She also attended and did graduate course work at the University of Michigan, UW-Platteville and New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

An educator and coach for almost three decades, Bev taught physical education and health in schools in Waukesha and Platteville, Wisconsin, Bay City and Dearborn, Michigan, and Las Cruces, New Mexico before moving to Superior in the mid-1980's.

In Platteville, Bev directed the very first organized gymnastics program for girls at the high school and introduced the colorful "Little Big Top" event.

Bev promoted "Play Days" for young women in sports before there were organized high school programs for them. She was a swimming and water safety instructor, choreographed community and fine arts productions and chaired Junior Miss scholarship programs and gymnastics at every level.

At her side and throughout the majority of her adult life was and has been her husband of 47 years, Edward James Noltner, formerly of Waterloo, Wisconsin, who survives.

The pair met in college at the Newman Center and together aided one another in their educational, career and coaching which took them from one end of the Badger State to the other, and from neighborhood and amateur ranks to Division I championships – all of which followed their marriage in
Cuba City on August 3, 1963 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. The couple concluded careers in Superior before retirement as Ed was a member of the UWS football staff and director of Wessman Arena.

The couple enjoyed all sports, the outdoors, their retirement and lake home and primarily focused their lives on their strong Catholic faith, marriage and family of four adult children and their spouses, 14 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and an endless, supportive circle of cherished family and friends.

Bev's memberships included the Wisconsin Education Association, Lake Nebagamon Lake Association, Lake Nebagamon Garden Club and the Superior Figure Skating Club.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Edward H. Hartung and Mary Elizabeth (Powers) Hartung.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by four children and their spouses, including Tamara (Mark) Decker, Bakersfield, California, Thomas Edward (Tracey) Noltner, Waupaca, Wisconsin, Allison (Tim) Dolan, Bakersfield, California, and Kimberly (Kevin) Shulfer, Wausau, Wisconsin; 14 grandchildren including Tiffany (Dan) Decker-Dobrygowski, Jennifer (Josh) Decker-Donahue, Ryan (Jessica Camacho) Decker, Ethan Decker, Lauryn Decker, Tegan Noltner, Trey Noltner, Kennedy Poe, Reagan Poe, Parker Dolan, Austin Shulfer, Alex Shulfer, and twins Calie and Carter Shulfer; great-grandchild, Aleksander Dobrygowski; siblings, Shirley (Hartung) Eberlein, Platteville, Wisconsin, Stanley (Sandra) Hartung, Apple Valley, Minnesota, Mary Elaine (Hartung) Thomas, Libertyville, Illinois; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law including Mary Jane (Noltner) Marr, Newport News, Virginia, Robert (Doris) Noltner, Waterloo, Wisconsin, Janet (Noltner) Netzer and Rita (Noltner) Kannenberg, both of Waterloo, Wisconsin; and 26 nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., with a wake service at 6:30 p.m., Friday, May 27, 2011 at Downs Funeral Home, 1617 N. 19th Street, Superior, and will resume at 10 a.m. Saturday, until the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Lake Nebagamon. At Honor Guard will be members of the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Assembly 1208.

Active pallbearers will be Ethan Decker, Ryan Decker, Jon Scheldroup, Joe Krieg, Richard Wardwell and Guy Peterson. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Lattery, Randy Levine, Mike Edwards, Jack Sellwood, Dennis Raas, Dick Strauch and Jay Johnson.

Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Waterloo, Wisconsin.