Stracke, Bernice Crescentia (Coenen) (1918 - 2019)

STRACKE, COENEN, STOLL, STAVA, WEIHS, RAUTERKUS

Posted By: Denise Wurner, Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/25/2019 at 15:09:44

Name of deceased: Bernice Crescentia Stracke (nee Coenen)

Aged: 100 yrs, 8 mo, 1 day

Residence: Avoca Specialty Care, Avoca,IA

Born: May 8, 1918; Westphalia, Shelby County, IA

Died: Jan. 9, 2019; Avoca Specialty Care, Avoca, Pottawattamie County, IA

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Sunday, Jan. 14, 2019; St. Michael's Catholic Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Westphalia, IA

Survived by: Children, Lenny Stracke (spouse, Ellen) of Perry, IA, Grace (spouse, Ron) Stava of Omaha, NE, Diane (spouse, Gary) Weihs of Harlan, IA, David Stracke (spouse, Deb) of Harlan, IA, and Mary (spouse, Greg) Stava of Elkhorn, NE; 15 grandchildren; 21 great -grandchildren; sister, Marilyn Rauterkus of Omaha, NE; sister-in-law, Dorothy Coenen of Woodbine, IA; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Henry and Agnes (nee Stoll) Coenen; husband, Leonard; brothers, Ray Coenen, Kenneth Coenen, and Henry Coenen, Jr.

Education: Attended country school in Shelby County, IA, and then attended and graduated from St. Boniface School, Westphalia, IA, Class of 1937

Religious affiliation: Baptized and confirmed at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Westphalia, IA; was a member there and was very active in the Altar Society, teaching religious education, sewing circle, and helped with the Westphalia parish picnics; she also belonged to the St. Michael’s Catholic Church Woman’s Guild.

Military service: n/a

Marriage: Leonard Clement Stracke; Dec. 30, 1943; St. Boniface Catholic Church, Westphalia, IA

Employment: After graduation from high school, Bernice worked in Harlan, IA for several different families as a housekeeper and/or nanny. After her marriage, she was an active farmer’s wife

Hobbies/Interests: enjoyed canning, sewing, cooking, baking and to entertain in her home; enjoyed traveling with her favorite trip as having been to Rome and seeing the Pope; enjoyed playing cards; bird-watching; being with family

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; pauleyjones.com