Wilfred Leo Berning 1922 - 2008

BERNING, JASPER, DOWNING

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/21/2019 at 19:41:00

Sioux City Journal
28 December 2008

MAPLETON, Iowa -- Wilfred L. Berning, 86, of Mapleton died Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mapleton, with Monsignor Mark Duchaine officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery at Mapleton. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with a vigil wake service at 7 p.m., followed by a rosary led by the Knights of Columbus at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton.

Wilfred Leo Berning was born March 17, 1922, at Breda, Iowa, the son of William and Anna (Jasper) Berning. He grew up in the Breda area, where he farmed with his dad. He came to Anthon, Iowa, in 1948, where he was self-employed as a carpenter.

On May 5, 1949, he was united in marriage to Betty Jean Downing in Anthon. The family moved to Mapleton in 1970, where Wilfred was employed at Maple Valley High School, retiring in 1990. Betty died Dec. 29, 1997.

Wilfred was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mapleton. He was an honorary lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed woodworking, but the greatest happiness in his life came from his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Those survivors left to cherish their memories of Wilfred include a son and his wife, Mike and Lori Berning of Anthon, Iowa; three daughters and their husbands, Mary and Don Davis of Mapleton, Deb and Rick Swanger of Battle Creek, Iowa, and Barb and Dean Moser of Danbury, Iowa; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two brothers and their wives, Norbert and Margie Berning of Lake View, Iowa, and Bill and Betty Berning of Fort Dodge, Iowa; and two sisters, Agnes Tigges of Des Moines, and Mary Ann Jannings and her husband, John of Carroll, Iowa.

Along with his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Aaby Davis; four brothers, Albert, Laverne, Larry and Francis; and a sister, Leota.