Berniece Helen Anna Schluter (1924-2020)

SCHLUTER, STOLTE, MOELLER, SISSEL, BLOUIN, STERNER, PHELPS

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 5/18/2021 at 18:51:33

Bernice Helen Anna Schluter, 96, of Tipton, peacefully passed into eternity on Monday August 3, 2020, at Mercy Hospital, Iowa City.

In remembrance of Bernice, a Celebration of Life Service will be held at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton, on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at 1:00pm, officiated by Pastor Kerri Sandusky, immediately followed by a Graveside Committal Service at Tipton Masonic Cemetery.

Bernice, daughter of Walter Frederick and Clara Dora (Stolte) Moeller, was born on Tuesday, April 1, 1924 on a farm in Cedar County, near Bennett, Iowa. She attended school in Clarence and high school in Bennett, but did not graduate. Friends recall her telling them she did not finish high school because “she needed money”.

At the age of 18, Bernice married Gale “Red” Leroy Sissel. Red and Bernice had two beautiful children: Beva Ann and Randy Gale, and were blessed with a great marriage until Red’s untimely death in 1971.

Bernice owned B&D Dry Goods in Tipton, IA and later worked at Bud’s Super Value. This is where she met her second husband, Darrell Blayney and was happily married until his death in 1978.

Bernice first met her third husband, Hugo Schluter after being invited to a card playing club. Family reports that Hugo and Bernice had a great relationship. Hugo enjoyed pampering her and Bernice appreciated being treated like a queen. Bernice and Hugo worked for Robert Sheets at Sheets Funeral Home and after the funeral home’s name changed under new ownership, they continued to work for David Fry at Fry Funeral Home. Bernice was the office manager and hostess for visitations and funerals.

Bernice loved dogs, bowling, bingo, waltzing and square dance music.

She was the senior resident at Prairie Hills Assisted Living, as this was her 12th year living there. She had countless friends here and enjoyed spending time with them. She always smiled, greeted others in the hallway, and was always willing to take new residents under her wing to make them feel at home. Having attended Lutheran Church Services and being a member of the United Church of Christ, she never wanted to miss a church service at Prairie Hills, especially if Ron Lashmit or Pastor Beth Wartick were performing the service. Bernice loved Prairie Hill’s monthly pie socials, because her sisters and sister-in-laws (who she viewed as sisters in her eyes) would come and be with her. Even though she didn’t make the pie, she still felt like the host.

Bernice’s favorite memory with a relative was when her Grandma Stolte gave her a little red comb for her birthday, when she was little. She still has it to this day, as it was very special to her.

She was known to be a very sharp and very independent woman with a heart of gold. Recognizing many of the same character qualities they shared, Bernice felt especially close to Amy, her ‘adopted granddaughter’. Bernice was honored to know she had been nicknamed ‘Amy’s grandma’ and said she would have loved to have had Amy as her granddaughter.

Bernice is survived by two children, Beva Ann Blouin of Las Vegas, NV and Randy Gale(Jennifer) Sissel of Fort Madison, IA; sisters, Evelyn Sterner of Tipton, IA, and Neva (Lynn) Phelps of Tipton, IA; brothers, Alvin (Monie) Moeller of Marion, IA, and Wallace (Pat) Moeller of Tipton, IA; and nine grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Walter Frederick and Clara Dora Moeller; three husbands, Gale "Red" Leroy Sissel, Darrell Blayney, and Hugo Schluter; brother, Raymond Moeller; and sisters, Helen Sissel, and Luella Phillips.

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