Bernice Mary Wiebusch

Bernice Mary Wiebusch, age 89, of Lake City died Friday, March 11, 2011, at the Lake City Hospital Mayo Health System.
Bernice was born September 29, 1921 in Gillford Township to Joseph and Johanna (Laqua) Krismer. She was raised on a farm near Lake City, where she attended country schools and later graduated from Lake City High School. In 1941 she earned her teacher's certificate from Red Wing Teacher's Training School and taught in Wabasha County country schools for 10 years. Bernice worked at various other jobs including Brown & Bigelow in St. Paul, a newspaper in Long Beach, CA, a waitress in Glacier National Park and in Pensacola, FL, where she took a side trip to Cuba. She married the love of her life, Ervin Wiebusch, on May 1, 1954 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in West Albany. They farmed in Gillford Township for 32 years until retiring in 1987 when they moved to Lake City. Bernice worked at the Lake City Nursing Home in the kitchen for 15 years and was a substitute teacher for several years. After retirement, they enjoyed traveling to places like Germany, Austria, Canada, Branson, Washington DC, Alaska, and Mexico. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lake City, where she was part of the Church Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Rose Garden Club, an active 4-H leader, Hospital Auxiliary, Wabasha County Extension, Retired Teachers Organization and the Wood Carver's club. She enjoyed painting barns and landscapes, telling stories, hiking, music, dancing, gardening, and collecting rocks. She planted and maintained the flowers in the long planter in McCahill Park for many years.
She is survived by three sons, James (Geri), Jerrold, Jeffrey (Ruby) Wiebusch all of Lake City; three daughters, Joan (Bill) Cronin of Lake City, Jane (Gary) Timm of Millville, and Julie (Mike) Zsido of Stevens Point, WI; 15 grandchildren; five great grandchildren; sister, Dorothy (Charles) McNamara of Goodhue; Brother-in-law, Harold (Marge) Wiebusch of Lake City; sisters-in-law, Margaret (Clifford) Rabe, Julia (Harold) Siefert, Loa (Floyd) Olson all of Lake City; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin, on January 4, 2010; parents; three sisters, Ethel Hofschulte, Loretta Kohn, and Anastasia Warthesen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father Richard Dernek officiating. Burial will take place at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Bernice's grandchildren, Jason Cronin, Heidi Bussan, Ryan Cronin, Amber Mahoney, Teresa Atkinson, Cara Wiebusch, Chris Wiebusch, Eric Wiebusch, Elyssa Wiebusch, Blake Timm, Grant Timm, Jake Wiebusch, Jessica Wiebusch, Grace Zsido, and Zach Zsido. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 14, 2011 at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Peterson Chapel in Lake City with a rosary service at 3:30p.m. Visitation will also take place one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church. Memorials are preferred to St. Mary's Catholic Church Building Fund. Online condolences can be sent at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com