Ehlers, Bernice Elizabeth (1922 - 2020)

EHLERS, DOLLEN, MILLS, GROEPPER, ZARESKI

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 10/18/2020 at 14:42:12

Name of deceased: Bernice Elizabeth Ehlers

Aged: 98 yrs, 7 mo, 18 days

Residence: Elm Crest Senior Living, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Born: Feb. 21, 1922; Minden, Pottawattamie County, IA

Died: Oct. 9, 2020, Elm Crest Senior Living, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Private Family Graveside Service: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020; Minden Cemetery, Minden, IA

Survived by: Nephew, Roger (spouse, Brenda) Dollen of Avoca, IA; niece, Darla (spouse, Randy) Mills of Houston, TX; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Adolph and Dorthea (nee Groepper) Ehlers; sisters, Helen, Alma and Yvonne

Education: Graduated from Lexington (NE) High School; she then went to beauty school in Des Moines, IA.

Religious affiliation: Longtime member, Shelby Presbyterian Church, Shelby, IA

Military service: n/a

Marriage: none

Employment: After completing beauty school, Bernice followed construction jobs for the years between WWI and WWII. She rented farms in Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska. Eventually, she settled in Omaha, NE, owning her own hair salon. During this time, she met Leo Zareski. Although they never married, they purchased a farm outside of Shelby, IA. Leo was diagnosed with leukemia and opassed shortly after. She remained on the farm until 2010.

Hobbies/Interests: enjoyed working; sight-seeing

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