SINSINAWA — Emma Josephine Berning, 98, of Sinsinawa, died peacefully Monday, November 29, at Stonehill Franciscan Services in Dubuque, Iowa. The Funeral Mass was celebrated on Friday, December 3, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Sinsinawa, with Rev. Cy Weisensel officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Emma was born on March 25, 1912 in Jamestown Township. She married Aloysius Berning on May 10, 1932, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Kieler. They were married 71 years when he preceded her in death on September 21, 2003. Emma was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church parish and the Council of Catholic Women.
She was a homemaker and loved sewing, crocheting, quilting, geneology, organ music, playing cards, and time spent with family and friends. All of her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren brought her much joy.
Survivors include four daughters, Bernadette (Douglas) Hilby, Dubuque, Iowa, Mary Ann (Eugene) Wessling, Omaha, Nebraska, Jenelle Berning, Dubuque, and Joyce (Ronald) Lansing, Luxemburg, Iowa; six sons, Richard (Mary) Berning, Sinsinawa, Gerald (Marilyn) Berning, Cuba City, Clarence (Arlene Lee, friend) Berning, Platteville, Lloyd (Janet) Berning, Sinsinawa, John (Ellen) Berning, Menominee, Illinois, and Mark (Jane) Berning, Dubuque; 45 grandchildren; six step grandchildren; 106 great grandchildren; five great great-grandchildren; a sister, Marion Thor, of Madison, and many nieces and nephews.
Besides her husband, Emma was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter-in-law, Judy Berning; four grandchildren, Jeff, Joe, and Frank Berning, and Elizabeth Wessling; a great grandson, Nathan Wessling; one sister, Ruth (John) Hentrich; two brothers, Raymond (Gertrude) Wiederholt, and Pfc Frank Wiederholt; and one brother-in-law, Walter Thor.
The family would like to thank the “special angels” that took care of Emma during her short stay at Stonehill Franciscan Services. “Since I’m the last member of the Frank and Angie Wiederholt family from this area, when I leave this world, I’ll have to put out the light and lock the door.” Online condolences may be left for the family at www.caseyfuneralhome.net