Leo Joseph Berns

BERNS, FASSBINDER, KOERPERICK, KEEHNER, MCGUIRE, SMRCINA, HEISLER, GRAMLICH, PISAREK, KERR, LAMBERT, SULLIVAN, HELLER, WAGNER

Posted By: Connie L. Ellis (email)
Date: 12/20/2010 at 21:29:53

SOURCE: Postville, Iowa HERALD-LEADER, November 20, 1996
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

A funeral mass for Leo Berns was held Tuesday, November 12, 1996 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Bridget Catholic Church at Postville, Iowa. The procession to the church was made with the casket in a horse drawn hearse. Concelebrants of the funeral mass were Monseigneur Edward Lechtenberg of Waukon and Father John Moran of Monona. The organist was Kathy Fassbinder, with special music provided by St. Bridget's Choir and also members of St. Peter's Choir in Clermont. The Schutte Funeral Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements. Interment was in St.Patrick's Cemetery, Monona, Iowa. Gift bearers were Bradley Berns, Valerie Gramlich, Katie Heisler, and Kim Berns. Mass servers were Brad Grinna, Brent Grinna, and Tim Schlein. A Parish Scripture service was held Monday evening, November 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Schutte Funeral Home in Postville.

Leo Joseph Berns, son of Alexander and Cecila (Fassbinder) Berns, was born January 17, 1917, near Monona, Iowa. He died Friday, November 8, 1996 in Allamakee County while working on his farm. He had reached the age of 79 years, 9 months, and 22 days.

Leo graduated from Monona High School in 1937. On January 17, 1939, he was married to Lucille Margaret Koerperick in St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Monona, Iowa. To this union seven children were born. The couple began their married life farming on the Wilke farm north of Postville. In 1956 they moved to a farm in Post Township, near the Yellow River northeast of Postville.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Lucille, who died March 3, 1986, a brother Joseph Berns and a sister Jean Keehner McGuire.

Surviving are his children, 4 sons, Robert (Kay) Berns of Arlington Heights, IL, Eugene (Nancy) Berns, Richard (Cindy) Berns,and Chuck Berns, all of Postville; 3 daughters, Roberta "Bobbi" (Bob) Smrcina of Dubuque, Iowa, Ann (Mert) Heisler of Farley, Iowa, and Mary (Jerry) Gramlich of Waukon, Iowa; 17 grandchildren, Sue and Jack Pisarek, Sherri and Scott Kerr, Steven Smrcina, Angela and Rodney Lambert, Tim and Kristen Berns, Michael and Paula Berns, Kari and Kimberly, Alex Berns, Bradley, Stacy, and Rebecca Berns, Kevin, David, and Katie Heisler; 10 great-grandchildren, Katie Pisarek, Kristi and Kelli Kerr, Camden and Lucas Lambert, Tyler, Katie, and Kelsie Berns, and Mackenzi and Taylor Berns; one brother, Hubert Berns and his wife, Dorothy of Monona, 3 sisters, Mrs. Agnes Sullivan of Waterloo, Iowa, Teresa and her husband, Harold Heller of Hazel Green, WI, and Delores and her husband, Tom Wagner of Monona, Iowa.

Also surviving are his sister-in-law, Avis Berns, Lorraine Smith, and Mildred Betts and two brothers-in-law, Ray Koerperick and Don Manning.

Leo was a member of the St. Bridget Catholic Church in Postville. Leo raised horses all of his life and he will be remembered for his parade entry, "The Cart Before the Horse". He was also a member of the Upper Iowa Saddle Club for many years.

Casket bearers were Ronald Berns, William Wagner, Steve Wagner, Donald Wagner, Jim Keehner, Leigh Keehner, Mike Koerperick and Jerry Heller.