Bernadine Rhinehart

BERNADINE RHINEHART

Vinton

Bernadine Rhinehart, 93, passed away Friday, May 27, 2016, at the Vinton Lutheran Home from complications of age.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 2, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, with the Rev. Stephen K. Preus officiating. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton. Friends may call from 4 until 7 p.m. Wednesday at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel (212 E. Sixth St.) in Vinton.

A memorial fund has been established for the Trinity Lutheran Church or Vinton Lutheran Home.

Bernadine Helena (Potthoff) Rhinehart was born Sept. 20, 1922, in Newhall, Iowa, the oldest child of John and Margaret (Geiken) Potthoff. She attended country schools through the eighth grade. She was in the top 10 eighth-grade scholars in Benton County. She graduated from Shellsburg High School as class valedictorian in 1940. In high school, she met her future husband, Edward Joseph Rhinehart. Bernadine and Ed were married May 31, 1944, in San Diego, Calif., while Ed was serving in the U.S. Navy. The couple lived in California until the end of Ed's military service in 1946. Their oldest son was born in 1945 during their stay in California.

Bernadine and Ed farmed and raised their family south of Vinton until Ed's health forced them to retire to Vinton in 1981.

Bernadine was a farm wife and was known for her large garden, cooking, baking and sewing for her family. Bernadine provided loving care for Ed until his death in 1998. She continued making quilts for her family and friends until her health failed.

She was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton. She taught Sunday school, sang in the church choir and was a member of the Mission Circle and Fireside Club. She also enjoyed membership in Modern Entertainers and a quilting club.

Bernadine is survived by two sons, Edward John (Jacque) Rhinehart of Blairstown and Wayne (Sharon) Rhinehart of Vinton; a daughter, Dianne (Todd) Clark of Iowa City; nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Leona and Virginia; and two brothers, Walter and John.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and a sister, Evelyn.

Online condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.

Bernadine's family would like to offer their sincere appreciation to the staff at Vinton Lutheran Home for the excellent care she received and their heartfelt thanks to the Rev. Stephen Preus for his many visits to their mother.