Bernice A. Bogda, 98

Bernice grew up in Ashippun, a small town in Dodge County, WI, where her father owned a grocery store and butcher shop. During her first eight years of schooling, Bernice attended a one-room school. As a child, Bernice loved to participate in sports, especially baseball and hockey, with her older brothers.

German was Bernice’s first language. She was a member of the last German confirmation class at Immanual Lutheran Church in Lebanon, WI. Bernice continued to pray daily in German until her final moments.

As a child, Bernice spent a lot of time behind the dry goods counter at the Neitzel Store, where she could listen to customers interact, learning about life and human nature. Bernice graduated from Oconomowoc High School in 1944. During the World War II years, she held summer jobs in a canning factory, a shoe-manufacturing company, and a business that made life preserves stuffed with cattail fluff for the U.S. Navy.

Bernice met her husband Roy, whom she described as a “God-fearing, good-looking, hard-working farmer,” on a blind date. They were married in 1950 and lived on a farm outside of Horicon, WI, for most of their lives. Bernice and Roy thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company in marriage for 63 years.

Bernice was an equal partner with Roy in operating the farm business, which started out as a dairy farm and was subsequently converted to an egg “factory” with 13,000 laying hens.

Bernice and Roy brought three children into the world – Bob, Mary, and Ann. Bernice fostered in her children a love of reading, writing and sports. Although she did not have the opportunity to attend college, Bernice was proud that all three children graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Bernice was a devout Christian and a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and business partner. Her joyful attitude and supportive nature were reflections of her faith in Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She was an active member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Horicon until moving to Central Wisconsin in 2008, when she and Roy joined St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stevens Point.

Bernice was predeceased by her parents; brothers, Elroy and Norman; sister, Shirley Chatfield; great-grandson, Harrison Little; and son-in-law, Thomas Weller. She is survived by her twin sister, Beatrice Zwieg; her children, Bob (Pam) Bogda of Ontario, CA; Mary Weller of Stevens Point, WI, and Ann (Ed) Kreul of Leland, NC; grandchildren, Brandon (Sarah) Bossenbroek, Meagann (Paul) Little, Torrie (Adrian Picardi) Bogda, Sagan (Casey) Arzola, Alicia (Matt) Hall, Joe Kreul and Kara (Pierce) Weiss; and great-grandchildren, Gus, Jack, Charlie, Lily, Scott, Leah, Oliver, Wally, and Theo.

A funeral service will be held at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 505 N. Palmatory St. in Horicon on February 2, 2024, at 11 a.m. Visitation with the family will be held one hour before the service. Burial will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery in Horicon.