Orfeo John (O.J.) and Linda Befera

Orfeo John (O.J.) Befera, 93, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012 at St. Clare Meadows in Baraboo. Orfeo Befera was born in Hibbing, Minn. on Nov. 20, 1919, he was the first child of Italian immigrants Delmo and Rose Befera. He graduated from Hibbing High School in 1937. He later received his degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1941.Linda Marie (Offre) Befera, 91, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 at St. Clare Meadows in Baraboo. She was born in Torino, Italy on September 7, 1921. The oldest child of Carlo and Madelina Offre. She completed high school and junior college in Hibbing.Linda and Orfeo were married on May 1, 1943 and enjoyed 69 beautiful years together.Linda devoted her life to O.J., her family and her love for cooking. She was well known for her special Italian dinner parties for family and friends, and her world-famous fudge bars. She loved her bridge clubs, ladies golf league, Daughters of Isabella and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.O.J. was very active in the Baraboo community. He and Linda were members of St. Joseph's Parish since 1951. O.J. was a member of the Knights of Columbus for 70 years, serving as Grand Knight in 1955-56. He was a member of the Elks Club for 70 years and a charter member of the Baraboo Country Club. He was very active in the Pro-Life movement and formation of the Memorial to the Unborn at the K of C building. He played hockey for the University of Minnesota and remained a proud Gopher fan his entire life. In 1972 he was one of a group who founded the youth hockey program in Baraboo. He loved to listen to Italian music and enjoyed playing the trumpet for many years, as well as, participating in various musical groups.O.J. began his chemical career with Hercules Powder in 1942 as a trainee in military propellants manufactured at the U.S. Army plant in Radford, Virginia. He was transferred to the new propellant plant, Badger Ordnance in Baraboo for startup operations in January 1943. Following the end of WWII, he and Linda returned to Hibbing to manage the family coin machine business. In 1951 O.J. returned to the Badger plant in Baraboo which was reopened for the Korean conflict. After the plant shutdown in 1958, O.J. was employed by Flambeau Plastics in quality control. In 1962 he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin to earn his teaching degree after which he taught chemistry at Portage H.S. until 1968. He and Linda also owned and operated Delmo's Pizza Palace in Baraboo from 1961 until 1972. Badger Army Ammunition Plant reopened in 1966 and O.J. returned to manage acid and nitroglycerine production. In 1974 he received the award for going over the million dollar mark in savings in the Olin Cost Reduction Program.O.J. is survived by his brother, Victor in Palo Alto, Cali. Linda is survived by her brother, Rudy in Hibbing, Minn. They are survived by sons, Tom of Racine, Greg (Fran) of Baraboo; daughters, Mary of Baraboo and Susan (Marc) McKinney of Dallas, Texas; 11 grandchildren, Nicholas, Thomas, Lisa, Megan (Nels), Matthew (Melissa), Natalie (Chris), Joseph (Melissa), Michael, Christopher, Lindsay and Shannon (Don) and 11 great-grandchildren, Tony, Michael, Elise, Tessa, Tyler, Savannah, Chase, Robbie, Tanner, London and Damon.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 304 East St, Baraboo with Father Jay Poster officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012 at the Redlin Funeral Home, 401 Madison Ave, Baraboo, continued visitation will take place at church on Tuesday from 10-11 a.m. The Daughters of Isabella will pray the rosary at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012 with an additional rosary service at 7 p.m. conducted by the Knights of Columbus at the funeral home.The family wishes to thank Dr. Ethan Carlson, Dr. Randy Krszjzaniek, Dr. Michael Plooster, Hospice and staff of St. Clare Hospital and the staff at St. Clare Meadows for the extraordinary care and love given to Linda and O.J.Donations may be made to the Pro-Life Foundation/KC Building or St. Joseph Catholic Church in O.J. and Linda Befera's name.