Verna Alma Bernhard
December 01, 2020
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Service Details
Verna Alma Bernhard, 92, passed away December 1, 2020 at Wesley Acres. Verna was born December 9, 1927 in Des Moines, IA to Ruth (Carl) and Bernard Wilson, the youngest child and sister of two older twin brothers. Growing up in the depression, Verna learned from her single mother how to cook, garden and be resourceful. With two older brothers constantly at her side or over her shoulder, she learned how to take a joke or a prank, and perhaps more importantly, she learned how to joke and become a prankster herself.
A few years later H.B. “Pete” Mossman married her mother and rounded out her family.
Verna graduated from Lincoln High School and worked for the Mutual Service Bureau for a short time before marrying her husband of 60 years, Robert “Bob” Bernhard and starting a family of her own.
In her community, Verna was an active member of First Methodist Church, the Pair O’ Troopers Sunday School Class, the Southgate Eastern Star, and later in life an active member of her Wesley Acres community.
Verna was a dedicated mother, homemaker, and fantastic cook, who would go on to be a loving grandmother, great-grandmother, and family matriarch. She was loved by family, extended family, neighbors, and her community. Verna will be missed.
She is survived by her son, Jack (Karen) Bernhard; son-in-law, Bob McKenzie; and her grandchildren, Kent Bernhard, Loni (Ben) Hanlon, Lauren (Steve) Centrella; and three great-grandchildren, Cohen and Everett Hanlon and Oliver Centrella. Verna was preceded in death by her daughter, Linda McKenzie; mother, Ruth and stepfather, H.B. “Pete” Mossman; her father, Bernard; brothers, Burt and Bernard; her and husband, Robert “Bob”.
Verna will be laid to rest with her husband, Robert at Des Moines Masonic Cemetery. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church, the Mid-America Boy Scouts Council or to The Wesley Life Good Samaritan Fund. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.HamiltonFuneralHome.com.
Kevin Conlan
12/14/2020
The Bernhards were next door neighbors thru my childhood. Verna did her best to make sure I stayed out of trouble when my mother was not at home. After she sold the house and moved to Wesley Acres, Verna again became my neighbor as I now live along the southern border of the Wesley campus.
I last spoke with Verna around Thanksgiving. Although she had been living under a virtual quarantine since March and grieving the death of her daughter Linda, Verna accepted the isolation as a defense against the virus and felt comfortable and safe. She told me her son Jack, son-in-law Bob and the Wesley staff were taking good care of her. She was looking forward more to Jan 20 than to her upcoming 93rd birthday.
Verna was a kind, gentle woman who was grateful for each and every day. She thought she had lived enough but the how long was not up to her. I never heard her complain and dont think she would be sad missing her birthday. May she rest peacefully.
MARK F SCHLENKER
12/06/2020
Verna was a good person and will be missed by all those who knew her.