Bernice Kirby

BERNICE KIRBY

Cedar Rapids

Bernice Hallman Kirby, 89, died March 18, 2016, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a victim of Alzheimer's disease. Memorial services will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. and conducted by the Rev. Herb Isenberg. A catered full dinner reception will follow for attendees in the church gathering place and fellowship hall. Inurnment will be at Kasota Hill Cemetery in Kasota, Minn. Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Kenneth W. Kirby; daughter, Carol Kirby Williams and husband Reese of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; son, Robert William Kirby and wife Robin of Lubbock, Texas; granddaughters, Jessica Irene and Megan Grace; and 21 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her twin sister, Bonita Eleanor Helmeke; sister, Fern Christine Forrey; and her six brothers, Paul Edward, Aaron Alfred, Maynard Christian, Woodrow Stanley, Donald Edward and Conard Carl.

Bernice was born 20 minutes after her twin on Aug. 16, 1926, at Immanuel Hospital in Mankato, Minn., daughter of Carl Alfred and Christine Berg Hallman. In early childhood, the twins made their home alternately with relatives in Minneapolis, Glenwood and Mankato, Minn., due to their mother's illness, returning to Mankato for junior and senior high school.

At age 13, Bernice was near death from acute peritonitis and was saved by sulfa drugs. While in high school Bernice learned welding and worked making radar boxes for the war effort. The twins graduated in June 1944. Upon graduation Bernice was recruited by the Department of Navy to work in Washington, D.C.

After marriage and children, Bernice studied German and French at Coe College as a mature student graduating summa cum laude in 1971 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She worked for 21 years as a substitute teacher, along with working for Dr. Alexander Lippisch, where she took dictation in German and wrote the copy in German for his book describing his invention of the Delta wing for aircraft. Bernice also studied German in Vienna, Austria, and Tubingen, Germany.

Bernice had many talents, among them a beautiful soprano voice. She performed in operettas, choral societies and church music using a clear pleasant voice with remarkable agility and range. She was a member of Beethoven Club, Civic Chorus and Choral Midwest. She studied in Mankato, Minn., Lafayette and Indianapolis, Ind., Washington, D.C., and Cedar Rapids.

Bernice was a 50-year member of PEO Chapter JT in Cedar Rapids. She was active in promoting Cottey College, a PEO college for women, demonstrating her commitment for higher education.

Bernice met her future husband in Mankato, Minn., in January 1943 and they were married on July 26, 1947, at First Presbyterian Church there. They enjoyed life living in Le Sueur, Minn., West Lafayette, Ind., Winston-Salem, N.C., and Cedar Rapids.

They loved traveling and covered 49 U.S. states, many European countries, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.

Memorials may be directed to First Presbyterian Church, Coe College or Alzheimer's Association.

Many thanks to St. Luke's and Mercy hospices who helped so much at the end of her life journey.

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