Berta Gonzalez

October 27, 1931 ~ August 24, 2023
Berta Gonzalez, 91, language teacher with USD 259, passed away Thursday, August 24, 2023. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary. Private family graveside service. Preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Matilda Zentner. Survived by her husband, Cesar Gonzalez of Wichita, KS; son, Robert Gonzalez of Wichita, KS and son, Richard and wife, Joan Kay Gonzalez of San Antonio, TX. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with: Education EDGE Mini Grant Fund c/o Wichita Community Foundation, 303 S. Broadway, Suite 100, Wichita, Kansas 67202.
So sad to hear the passing of one of my favorite teachers at Northwest! She was my German teacher for 3 years. Many happy memories of the German breakfasts we would have on Fridays and the annual German competition we would go to at KU where we would recite German poems. RIP Frau!
I was so sorry to see this. I worked with her and socialized also. She was a wonderful woman with a great smile. My sympathies to her family . RIP Frau!
Frau Gonzalez was my German teacher at NW high school in the mid 80’s. She got such a chuckle from the off-color phrases my German father taught me to say to her. I remember her voice, smile and laugh to this day. My sympathies to her family. ~Melanie Dietz Rangel.
Auf wiedersehen, Frau G.
Chris Shaner
NWHS 1984
Besides being a lovely person, Berta had a great sense of humor. She was always bright and sunny. I’ll miss her.
I treasure our time as friends and colleagues. She brightened the room wherever she was. She loved teaching and knowing teenagers, seeing them as individuals to learn from and delight in. How she loved her family too. My greeting to her was always the German version of “gracious one”–and she was. I’ll miss you, my friend.
Frau Gonzalez—I’ll always remember her laughter, high heels, and friendship with Ms. Couchman. Her class was one of my favorites. Frau G, you were uber cool. Kimberly Olson NWHS 1984
Berta made herself loved by all
of us, because of her way of being, always with a smile and so kind. We always remember
his saying “enjoy”. We will keep her in a place in our hearts,
forever.
Frau Gonzalez taught me and several other grateful kids at Northwest High School back in the early 1990s. I’ll never forget her warmth, charm and sense of humor. She was an inspiration and made learning languages fun. Through her perseverance, she also made it possible for many of us to experience learning outside the classroom – traveling abroad over spring break, with her as our chaperone. I’ll never forget our trip to Germany in 1993 – my first time in a foreign country. It changed my perspective on the world, and for that I am forever grateful.
David Parks, Northwest High School class of 1994
“Otto”
Lawrence Ferguson
Wichita Northwest High School
Class of 1990