Bernice Lorene Pfannkuch
October 7, 1912 — August 10, 2013
Graveside Service: 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 12, 2013 at Vail Cemetery, Vail, Iowa
Visitation with the family following the burial at the United Presbyterian Church in Vail, Iowa
Bernice Lorene Pfannkuch was born on her parents’ farm near Vail, Iowa, October 7, 1912, the only child of William and Katherine Slechta Pieper. She was raised on the farm and attended the rural schools near her home before graduating high school from the Vail Public School with the class of 1929. She then attended Iowa Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the summer where she received her teaching credentials. She was only 16 years of age at the this time, and since it was a requirement for teachers to be at least 18 years of age, she stayed home for over a year before she was able to get a school in Westside Township, close to her home. She also taught at a couple different schools in Jackson Township including Jackson Township #7 where two of her students introduced her to their older brother, Ludwig Pfannkuch. On February 18, 1938, Bernice was united in marriage with Ludwig Pfannkuch at the Wheatland Presbyterian Church near Breda, Iowa. Their union was blessed with one daughter, Lois. They made their home on a farm near Breda where Lud worked for Elmer Graber and farmed on his own. In those days married women were no longer allowed to teach so after six years of teaching Bernice became a homemaker. She was a busy farm wife caring for her family, raising a large garden and enjoyed tending the chickens of which they would sell the eggs on Saturday night, receiving money to buy food and other household needs. Ludwig passed away, following a brief illness, in December of 1947. Bernice and Lois then moved back to the farm north of Vail where Bernice was raised for a time before moving to Deloit. In the summer of 1950 they moved to Vail, Iowa, where she resided until November of 2000 when she moved to the Manilla Manor in Manilla, Iowa. While residing in Vail Bernice helped area families that were in need of extra domestic help. In her younger days, Bernice loved to dance, attending dances at the Uwana, Columbia Hall and occasionally the Five Mile House near Westside. She also enjoyed quilting and she and her mother made many lovely quilts over the years. Bernice enjoyed animals, especially cats, and the Manilla Manor cat could often be found napping with Bernice on her bed. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Vail. Bernice died early Saturday, August 10, 2013, at the Manilla Manor, Manilla, Iowa. At the time of her death she had been blessed with 100 years, 10 months and three days. Including her parents and husband, Bernice was also preceded in death by five brothers-in-law: Marvin Pfannkuch and wife Viola, Earl Pfannkuch and wife Lorene, Kenneth Pfannkuch and wife Lucille, Don Pfannkuch and Frances Pfannkuch who died in infancy; two sisters-in-law: Irene Olsen and husband Clifford and Edna Ramsey and husband Jack. Those remaining to cherish her memory include one daughter, Lois and husband Dick Blair of Vail, Iowa; three grandchildren and their spouses: Deb Ragaller (Craig) of Vail, Iowa, Eric Blair (Denise) of Lakewood, Colorado, and Amy Blair (Dan Weiss) of Jersey City, New Jersey and five great grandchildren: Brandon, Kayla and Amber Ragaller, Benjamin and Gwen Blair. Also surviving is one sister-in-law, Kay Pfannkuch of Manning, Iowa; nieces, nephews and friends. Graveside funeral services and burial were held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, August 12, 2013, at the Vail Cemetery, Vail, Iowa, with Pastor Richard Francis officiating. Following the services all were invited to join the family at the United Presbyterian Church in Vail for fellowship and refreshments prepared and served by the United Presbyterian Women. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.
Visitation with the family following the burial at the United Presbyterian Church in Vail, Iowa
Bernice Lorene Pfannkuch was born on her parents’ farm near Vail, Iowa, October 7, 1912, the only child of William and Katherine Slechta Pieper. She was raised on the farm and attended the rural schools near her home before graduating high school from the Vail Public School with the class of 1929. She then attended Iowa Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the summer where she received her teaching credentials. She was only 16 years of age at the this time, and since it was a requirement for teachers to be at least 18 years of age, she stayed home for over a year before she was able to get a school in Westside Township, close to her home. She also taught at a couple different schools in Jackson Township including Jackson Township #7 where two of her students introduced her to their older brother, Ludwig Pfannkuch. On February 18, 1938, Bernice was united in marriage with Ludwig Pfannkuch at the Wheatland Presbyterian Church near Breda, Iowa. Their union was blessed with one daughter, Lois. They made their home on a farm near Breda where Lud worked for Elmer Graber and farmed on his own. In those days married women were no longer allowed to teach so after six years of teaching Bernice became a homemaker. She was a busy farm wife caring for her family, raising a large garden and enjoyed tending the chickens of which they would sell the eggs on Saturday night, receiving money to buy food and other household needs. Ludwig passed away, following a brief illness, in December of 1947. Bernice and Lois then moved back to the farm north of Vail where Bernice was raised for a time before moving to Deloit. In the summer of 1950 they moved to Vail, Iowa, where she resided until November of 2000 when she moved to the Manilla Manor in Manilla, Iowa. While residing in Vail Bernice helped area families that were in need of extra domestic help. In her younger days, Bernice loved to dance, attending dances at the Uwana, Columbia Hall and occasionally the Five Mile House near Westside. She also enjoyed quilting and she and her mother made many lovely quilts over the years. Bernice enjoyed animals, especially cats, and the Manilla Manor cat could often be found napping with Bernice on her bed. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Vail. Bernice died early Saturday, August 10, 2013, at the Manilla Manor, Manilla, Iowa. At the time of her death she had been blessed with 100 years, 10 months and three days. Including her parents and husband, Bernice was also preceded in death by five brothers-in-law: Marvin Pfannkuch and wife Viola, Earl Pfannkuch and wife Lorene, Kenneth Pfannkuch and wife Lucille, Don Pfannkuch and Frances Pfannkuch who died in infancy; two sisters-in-law: Irene Olsen and husband Clifford and Edna Ramsey and husband Jack. Those remaining to cherish her memory include one daughter, Lois and husband Dick Blair of Vail, Iowa; three grandchildren and their spouses: Deb Ragaller (Craig) of Vail, Iowa, Eric Blair (Denise) of Lakewood, Colorado, and Amy Blair (Dan Weiss) of Jersey City, New Jersey and five great grandchildren: Brandon, Kayla and Amber Ragaller, Benjamin and Gwen Blair. Also surviving is one sister-in-law, Kay Pfannkuch of Manning, Iowa; nieces, nephews and friends. Graveside funeral services and burial were held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, August 12, 2013, at the Vail Cemetery, Vail, Iowa, with Pastor Richard Francis officiating. Following the services all were invited to join the family at the United Presbyterian Church in Vail for fellowship and refreshments prepared and served by the United Presbyterian Women. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.
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