|
Facts and Events
Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Bernadine Ament Geisler, 90, of Dubuque, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, at home surrounded by her family.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Steve Rosonke officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, Iowa. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 Kennedy Road, where there will be a parish wake service at 7:30 p.m.
Bernie was born on May 24, 1922, daughter of Ted and Dolly Hingtgen. She was raised on the family farm near Zwingle, Iowa, with her two brothers, John (Bud) and Wayne. She was eager to get off the family farm to attend Clarke College, earning her BA degree in 1944. She taught junior high for one year, but it wasn't to her liking. She then worked as a social worker for Catholic Charities.
Bernie married Frederick (Pete) Ament in 1947, and they had five children, Karlyn (Tom) Van Gelder, Michael (Mary Pat), Janice (Chuck) Barnes, Robert and Lori Ann Storey. She was a wonderful seamstress and enjoyed the bountiful gardens she and Pete tended together. After Pete's death in 1966, Bernie was able to support her family when she became the alumni director of Clarke College.
In 1973, Bernie married Gene Geisler and welcomed his three children Peter (Brenda), Kathy (Larry) Baird, and Jan (Jerry) White and their families into her fold. Although Gene passed away in 1991, Bernie's love solidified the larger Ament-Geisler clan as a united extended family.
One of Bernie's favorite roles was that of loving grandmother to Kevin, Connie, Zachary, Samantha, Annika, Josh, Nathan, Nick, Erica, Megan, Caitlin, Kelsey, Emma, Mark, Eric, Sarah and Steve. She provided an amazing example of how to live life to the fullest and when asked, all would name her as their role model. Her house was a favorite place for her grandkids - always plenty of toys, treats, fun and love.
Her 14 great-grandchildren, Isabelle, J.P., Kate, Frederick, Jacob, Jonas, Luke, Zach, Madelyn, Bennett, Cassie, Brady, Brandyn and Blake loved their "Nana B" very much, especially her "e-e-e-e's" (hugs).
Bernie was always ready for fun. She enjoyed golf (and was proud of her hole-in-one at Thunderhills Golf Club). Although age took away distance in later years, she always hit it straight down the middle. She was an ace at cards, loved entertaining family and friends and was an adventurous cook. Her door was always open to all; including many a roommate, family, friends and Clarke faculty and exchange students.
Her love for travel kept her frequent flier points accumulating well into her 80s, as she covered five continents. She climbed glaciers and fished for halibut with her "boys" and was an enthusiastic tourist to the Space Needle, Bourbon Street and Times Square with her "girls." In later years, she became the "No. 1 fan" of her son's band, "Just Cuz."
Bernie's brother, Wayne, was a special person in her life. He took wonderful care of his big sister.
Bernie was very generous with her time. She served in a variety of ways in many organizations, including Hospice of Dubuque, Women's Giving Circle, Clarke College and Carnegie-Stout Public Library.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hospice of Dubuque and Carnegie-Stout Public Library.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.egelhofsiegertcasper.com.
A special thanks to Hospice of Dubuque and Luther Manor for their kindness and loving care for Bernie.
|
