Bernice Ann Reinsch

Bernice Ann (Schommer) Reinsch was born to Anthony P. Schommer and Margaret (Heinz) Schommer on December 27, 1921, at Lawrence, NE, and passed away on October 5, 2014, at Heritage Crossings in Geneva, NE at the age of 92 years, 9 months and 8 days. Bernice Ann Schommer was born on a farm near Lawrence, NE. She was the oldest of 7 children. Bernice attended catholic school in Lawrence 8 years, then 4 years of public high school, graduating in May, 1939. She worked in a local grocery store in Lawrence before going to Hastings and also clerked in a grocery store there. She met her husband, Clarence, in February of 1941 at her cousins’ wedding dance. They were married on April 19, 1944 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lawrence. After which she returned to California with Clarence where he was then stationed. Later that year they went to Texas where Clarence prepared to go overseas. He left in January of 1945 and Bernice returned to Nebraska visting her mother and Clarence’s folks. Their oldest daughter was born May 2, 1945. When Clarence returned in Nov. 1945, he was discharged and they moved to a farm near Shickley. In 1954, they moved to a farm west of Geneva where they lived until June of 1986 when they retired and moved into Geneva, at 444 F street. To this happy union 8 children were born: Carol, Kay, Deloris, Gary, Ken, Ranee, Rhonda and Anthony. Bernice was preceded in death by her husband Clarence her parents Anthony and Margaret Schommer of Lawrence, NE, and her three brothers: Oscar, Jerome and S.J. (Joe), brother-in-law, Frank Gilmore and one son-in-law, John Hoarty of Fairmont. She is survived by her 3 sisters: Imelda (Leonard) Hoelting of Oxford, NE, Wilma Gilmore of Monterey Park, CA and Sharon (Robert) Oldham of Hastings, NE. All eight of their children and their spouses: Carol (Carl) Arent of Aurora, NE, Kay(Larry) Lukes of Saronville, NE, Deloris (Gerald) Lukes of Geneva, NE, Gary (Carol) Reinsch of Geneva, NE, Ken (Bev) Reinsch of Milford, NE, Ranee Hoarty and signifcant other, James Konzak of Geneva, NE, Rhonda Reinsch of Crete, NE and Anthony (Susan) Reinsch of Omaha, NE. Bernice has 23 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren. Bernice was an active member of the St. Joseph’s Altar Society, the American Legion Auxiliary and the V.F.W. Auxiliary. She also worked on the election board and was a member of the Stanton Township Extension Club. She worked at her home raising their eight children and helped on the farm whenever she could. She enjoyed all of her family and friends and loved all kinds of different activites helping out where ever needed. She was a very avid bingo player and card player. You could find her down in the pond dining room at Heritage Crossings with her children playing cards almost every day of the week. She went to many, many activities of her children and grandchildren as they were growing up. The church ladies of St. Joseph’s were well known for their very popular “ugly quilts” and Bernice was one of the square cutters for this project. On the farm, she grew a very large garden and canned a lot of jars of vegetables, pickles, jams and jellies. Her baking was also well known. She could make the best cinnamon rolls, homemade bread and chocolate chip cookies. Banana pudding was also a must at any family gathering. Do you think she spoiled her family??? Bernice always put God first in her life and taught her children and grandchildren to do the same. She also passed on her hard working ethics to them. Even to the end she wanted to look respectible in God’s eyes so much that she removed her neck brace (hiding it from the nurses) to attend Wednesday Mass at Heritage after her fall on Monday. As her health began to fail, she was admitted to Heritage Crossings where she spent the last 1 ½ years of her life. The staff at Heritage Crossings were very, very good to her and she met and made new friends there and also some of her old neighbors and friends joined her out there. Funeral Mass for Bernice will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Geneva, Nebraska. Rosary will be 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Church. Visitation will begin at 2 pm until 5 pm at the Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva and then from 6:00 pm until Rosary at the Church. Memorials are directed to the St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Interment will be in the St. Joseph's Cemetery.

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Bernice Ann Reinsch

December 27, 1921 - October 5, 2014