Bernice Mithelman
August 09, 2014
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Service Details
Bernice Mithelman, 89, of Des Moines, formerly of Grinnell, Iowa, passed away on August 9, 2014 at Taylor House Hospice of complications from a fall. She was born on June 12, 1925 to John and Clara Cogley of Grinnell. She graduated from Grinnell High School. On September 17, 1943 she married Claire Mithelman. They had 2 children; Larry (Pam) of Johnston, and Suzanne Pearson (Mike Webber) of Pleasant Hill; 2 grandchildren, Todd Mithelman (Colette), of Johnston, and Stacey Brown (Nedd) of Bondurant; and 4 great-grandchildren, Taylor, Courtney and Carson Mithelman and Theo Brown.
She was preceded in death by her husband Claire, her sister Eleanor Mason, brothers Clarence Cogley and Jim Cogley. She is survived by sisters Betty Bryan, Avis Kelm, Joan Hopkinson, Barbara Danskin, Marilyn (Jim) Copeland, Pat Lang, and brothers Dr. Keith Cogley, Dr. Allen (Kay) Cogley, and Dr. Roy (Bonny) Cogley.
She lived in the Grinnell area until 2007 when she moved to The Gardens at Luther Park. She owned Bernice’s Candies in Grinnell and was a supervisor at Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance for many years. Upon retiring she had an antique business and while she and Claire spent winters in Mesa, AZ she flipped mobile homes as a hobby. She was on the board of St. Francis Manor in Grinnell. She and Claire loved dancing and traveling. She traveled with Friendship Force to several countries. Other interests included movies, garage sales, playing cards and working on jigsaw puzzles. She had a talent for baking and was known for her homemade buns, tea rings and cinnamon rolls. Her passion for gardening included beautiful flower and hosta beds. She was known for wearing hats and having a great sense of humor. She loved her family deeply and was always supportive and encouraging to all.
Visitation will be Tuesday, August 12 from 5 to 7 at Hamilton Funeral Home, 105 4th St. SW, Altoona. The funeral service will be Wednesday, August 13 at 11:00 at Lutheran Church of the Cross, 1701 8th ST. SW with burial at the Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to be directed to The Gardens at Luther Park or Taylor House Hospice.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Phyllis Buchmeier Reid
08/12/2014
My sincere sympathy to your family in your loss. I thought so highly of both of your parents, having purchased volumes of items from Claire from when he worked for Impact Sales and I was buyer of promotional items for GTE. Your parents were such a very important part of St John's Lutheran Church in days gone by and were so supportive of all of the members. Together as a couple I will remember their warm, friendly personalities, their sense of humor and giving spirit. May they now rest together in peace. Your mother was a class act!