MRS. FRANCIS (Bernice "Bea" Osterhaus) SCHMIT

LEIBOLD, OSTERHAUS, SCHMIT, KRAMER, KAUDER, FELTON, RODEKAMP, DAUGE, ALBANG, WESSELS

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 2/24/2003 at 10:06:25

Bernice Schmit

Telegraph Herald - Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Bernice "Bea" Schmit, 90, of Mount Pleasant Home, formerly of Bernard, Iowa, died Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003, at Heritage Manor.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Garryowen, rural Bernard, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Siegert-Didesch Colonial Funeral Home, 390 N. Grandview Ave., Dubuque.

She was born on Oct. 31, 1912, in Fillmore, Iowa, daughter of Francis and Catherine (Leibold) Osterhaus.

She married Francis Schmit on April 14, 1938; he passed away on June 28, 1969. Bea and Francis built Schmitty's Cafe in Bernard in 1947, and operated it until 1965. They moved to Lac du Flambeau, Wis., and operated the Villa Venise Resort there until 1969.

Bea enjoyed her fishing trips with Francis and was a die hard Cubs fan. Her true joy came from the many hours spent with her grandchildren.

Surviving are a son, Don (Judy) Schmit, of Bernard; a daughter, Pat Kramer, of Dubuque; six grandchildren, Steve (Lorri) Schmit, Anne (Kyle) Kauder, Mike (Cheri) Schmit, Janet (Kevin) Felton, Karen (Matt) Rodekamp and Travis Kramer; nine great-grandchildren; two brothers, George Osterhaus, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Walter (Mary) Osterhaus, of Independence, Iowa; two sisters, Mathilda Dauge, of Dubuque, and Lorraine Albang, of Dyersville, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Frank and Leo Osterhaus; and two sisters, Francine Wessels and Mary Osterhaus.