Bernice (Pancratz) Schuster 1925-2015

SCHUSTER, PANCRATZ, BOYER, STRAIN, VEACH, HAXMEIER, UHLENHAKE, GEHL, HELLMAN, LINDER, GONNER, LIES, HINGTGEN, SCHECKEL, THOLE, AMBROSY

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 12/31/2015 at 23:12:26

Bernice Schuster, 90, of 2 Julien Dubuque Drive and formerly of Zwingle, died Saturday, August 8, 2015, at Manor Care.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 13, 2015, at Saint Raphael Cathedral with Msgr. Thomas Toale officiating. Burial will follow at Assumption Cemetery, Sylvia Switch. Friends May call from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 12, 2015, at the Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory 2595 Rockdale Road, where a parish wake service will be held at 3:00 p.m.

Bernice was born on July 26, 1925, in Zwingle, Iowa, the daughter of Leo and Elizabeth (Boyer) Pancratz. She married Henry L. Schuster on Feb. 12, 1947, at Saint Joseph on the Prairie Catholic Church. They shared 54 wonderful years working together on their family dairy farm creating a legacy that continues today.

Bernice was a member of Catholic Daughters of America, Saint Raphael Cathedral and the Dubuque County Farm Bureau Women's Group for 28 years. She was a 4-H member and served as a leader for many years with the Washington Wonder Workers and was inducted into the 4-H hall of fame in 2011. Bernice was a Wallaces Farmer Master Homemaker in 1999.

She is survived by her children Robert (Nancy) Schuster, of Zwingle, David (Peggy) Schuster, of Zwingle, Elizabeth "Betty" (Kevin) Strain, of Camanche, Iowa, Donald (Barbara) Schuster, of Zwingle, and Bonnie (Ken) Veach, of Zwingle. Her grandchildren Kris Haxmeier, Jody Uhlenhake, Craig Schuster, Jim Schuster, Carrie Gehl, Jennifer Hellman, Dan Schuster, Sara Linder, Adrain Strain, Katie Strain, Paul Schuster, Josh Schuster, Jason Schuster, Kelly Schuster, Mike Veach, Brian Veach and Teri Gonner. Great grandchildren; Megan, Nichole, Kylee and Trevor Haxmeier, Sydney and Will Uhlenhake, Kate, Henry and Nick Schuster, Anna, Lauren and Julia Gehl, Claire and Rachel Hellman, Jack Linder, Mabel Strain, Dustin, Devan and Drew Veach, Louie, Allie, Dillon and Jacob Gonner and Jaxon Veach. A brother, Leroy (Inez) Pancratz, sisters; Lillian Lies and Vivian Hingtgen, sisters-in-law, Monica Pancratz, Mary Scheckel and Lola Schuster, and brothers-in-law William (Lorraine) Schuster, Joseph Schuster, Dick Schuster and Loras Schuster.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Henry, Feb. 18, 2001, a granddaughter, Melissa Schuster, in 1977, sisters, Marcella Pancratz, Theresa Thole, Elizabeth Ambrosy, brothers, Charles and Kenneth Pancratz, brothers-in-law, Karl Kies and John "Bud" Hingtgen, and members of the Schuster family.

In lieu of flowers, a Bernice Schuster memorial fund has been established.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Manor Care and Dr. Matthew Kirkendall and his nurse Kate for all the care and kindness they showed to Mom these last few months.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Tuesday, August 11, 2015