Person:Kathryn Osmundson (1)

From the August 13, 1984, edition of the Cedar Rapids Gazette

Car hits semi, woman killed

WEST UNION - A Monona woman died Monday morning after she lost control of her vehicle on Highway 18, three miles east of West Union.

According to a spokesman for the Iowa State Patrol, Kathryn Lorraine Berns, 58, was westbound when she attempted to slow down and lost control of her car.

She went onto the road's north shoulder, then slid across the westbound lane into the eastbound lane, where she struck a semi-trailer truck head-on.

The driver of the semi, Gerald J. Jungling, 47, of Aplington, Iowa, was hauling a load of corn. Upon impact, both vehicles went into the south ditch and the semi went over the car, demolishing it, the spokesman said.

The semi, which came to rest upright in the south ditch, had $10,000 worth of damage, but Jungling was not injured.

Berns' death it the fourth fatality in Fayette County this year. Services are pending at Schultz's in Monona.

The accident remains under investigation.

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From the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, date unknown

Kathryn Lorraine Berns

MONONA, Iowa - Kathryn Lorraine Berns, 58, of Monona died Monday as a result of a car-semi truck accident three miles east of West Union, Iowa.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Monona, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call after 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Schultz Funeral Home in Monona, where the rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Her first husband, Gerald Lestina, died in 1965.

Surviving are her husband, Roland Berns; a daughter, Mrs. John (Cheryl) Martin of Postville, Iowa; a son, Jerry Lestina of Lancaster, Texas; 31 grandchildren; five stepdaughters, Mrs. Jim (Carla) Burger and Mrs. Jeff (Mary) Mueller, both of Monona, Mrs. Mike (Carolyn) Short of Keokuk, Iowa, Maggie Carrimon of LaCrosse, Wis., and Mrs. Colin (Bonnie) Carrimon of Onalaska, Wis.; six stepsons, David Berns of Walker, Iowa, Dennis Berns of Rochester, Minn. Steve Berns of Jesup, Iowa, Bruce Berns of San Antonio, Texas, John Berns of Guttenberg, Iowa, and Mark Berns of Ames, Iowa; and two sisters, LeAnna Hulbert of Clermont, Iowa, and Mrs. Dale (Arlene) Welsh of Williamsburg, Iowa.