Christoffel, Bernadine M. 1924-2005

CHRISTOFFEL, MINTEN, KONZ

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/29/2007 at 17:52:51

GRANVILLE, Iowa -- Bernadine M. Christoffel, 81, of Granville died Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen, Iowa.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Granville, with the Rev. Kenneth Seifried officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. Tuesday, with a parish rosary at 5 p.m. and a vigil prayer service at 7:30 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Fisch Funeral Home in Remsen, Iowa.

Bernadine "Bernie" M. Christoffel was born Feb. 4, 1924, in rural Alton, Iowa, the daughter of Bernard and Emma (Konz) Minten. "Bernie" was raised in the Alton and Granville area and received her education in the rural school system, St. Mary's Academy in Alton and St. Joseph's Catholic School in Granville. She then did domestic work in the area.

On Jan. 15, 1948, she married James Christoffel at Alton, where they made their home. In the spring of 1952, they moved to near Remsen, where they were engaged in farming. In the spring of 1956, they moved to Sioux City and in the spring of 1957, moved to near Ashton, Iowa, where they farmed. In 1966, they moved to a farm near Granville and moved into Granville in April 1992. James died July 7, 1998. Bernie had been a resident of the Happy Siesta since Dec. 29, 2003.

She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the church Guild, Catholic Daughters of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. Bernie loved to work in her yard, flower and vegetable gardens and raising chickens. She spent lots of her time visiting and loved a clean house and yard. She enjoyed working part time at the local cafe and traveling. Most of her time besides gardening was spent as a loving spouse and mother.

Survivors include four sons and their wives, Lewayne "Chris" and Marilyn of Sioux City, Gary and Carol, Randall and Denice, all of Granville and Deanell "Dean" and Lisa of Le Mars, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Emily Schroeder of Marcus, Iowa and Marilee and her husband, Robert Elliott of Richfield, Minn.; two brothers and their wives, Donald and Mary Minten of Alton and Myron "Mick" and Nancy Minten of Nuero, Calif.; and a brother-in-law, Milo Harnack of Remsen.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a granddaughter, Amber Christoffel; two grandsons, Dustin and Tyler Christoffel; and a sister, Kathleen Harnack.

Pallbearers will be Adam, Curtis, David, Derek, Eric, Evan, Justin and Ryan Christoffel.

[Part of the Darrell Easton Obituary Collecton; source: Sioux City Journal]