Wongerie "Bea" Marie Kapfhamer

Wongerie Marie (Gagnard) Kapfhamer passed away peacefully at the Masonic Home of Saint Petersburg, Florida Monday, July 10, 2017. “Bea,” as she was fondly known by family and friends and “BeBe” to her grandchildren and great grandchildren, was surrounded by her family for many loving and cherished moments preceding her death. She was 92.

Wongerie was born in Oklahoma City, OK on April 30, 1925 as the only child of Daisy (Bordelon) Gagnard and Emerick Gagnard. She was raised in Mansura, La. by her mother Daisy and stepfather Edward Monin, where she graduated from the Mansura Senior High School on May 28, 1942.

Wongerie met Aviation Cadet (AC) Robert “Bob” Warren Kapfhamer on leave at a USO café in New Orleans, La. They quickly fell in love and married on the 11th of November, 1945 at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Alexandria, La.

Bea raised six children while being the steadfast support to her loving husband, Bob, whose career in the United States Air Force spanned over 33 years until they retired to Largo, Florida in 1977.

Wongerie was preceded in death by her husband Colonel Robert W Kapfhamer (USAF Ret) and great grandchild Dane Turnmeyer.

She is survived by her children Sandra M Dettner (David), Kathy A Schmidt (Robert), Christine E Dailey (Sam), Denise C Lindberg (Bill), Robert C Kapfhamer (Amy), and Felice A Kapfhamer-Scharp (Brad), and cousin Roland Bordelon. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, Christopher, Will and Anne Dettner, Tammy Turnmeyer, Damon Schmidt and Kelli Space, Shannon, Jonathan and Blake Dailey, Dawn Bradley and Billy Lindberg, Adam Kapfhamer, Jason, Andrew, Tara and Kyrsten Catlin. Bea was blessed with the love of 21 great grandchildren.

Bea established her home as a place of love, food and liveliness. She was the epitome of the Air Force Officer’s wife and gracious hostess. She proudly displayed her Cajun heritage through her famous gumbo, cheesecake, beautiful home and gardens.

“Laissez le bon temps rouler!” (Let the good times roll!)