116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Bernadine Peckenschneider
BERNADINE B. PECKENSCHNEIDER
New Liberty
Bernadine B. Peckenschneider, 94, died peacefully Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, at the Clarence Nursing Home from an extended period of stroke complications. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Big Rock with Pastor Diane Prichard officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time at the church. Burial will be in the Maysville Cemetery.
Bernadine was born to Grover and Bertha Homrighausen Horstmann on Aug. 7, 1922, in Big Rock, Iowa. She married Lester Peckenschneider on June 6, 1946, in Wheatland. He passed away Sept. 23, 2006.
Survivors include two daughters, Mary (Jim) Pelzer of Tipton and Diana (Gregg) Durlam of Ankeny; grandchildren, Dan Durlam, Mikel Durlam, Tracy (Andy) Pelzer-Timm, Chris Pelzer and Kurt Pelzer; great-grandson, Paxton Timm; sister-in-law, Helen Horstmann of Minneapolis, Minn.; and brother-in-law, Wayne Gesell of Long Grove.
Bernadine was the postmaster in Big Rock during World War II and sent letters to many servicemen who were friends and family, eventually marrying one of the young soldiers! She was a phone receptionist for the family business, Peckenschneider Oil Co. Bernadine lived her life in service to others, taking care of her father after her mother's death, looking after her elderly sister and also taking care of her husband in illness. She was active in her church and a former member of the Big Rock Ladies Aid. She was a wonderful cook/baker (with a large recipe collection) who didn't use a timer. She also enjoyed music. Bernadine had a big heart and was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Richard; sister, Florence Bethurum; and brothers, Grover (Sparky), Elmer, Norman, Woodrow and Kenneth Horstmann.
The family would like to thank the Clarence Nursing Home staff who provided good care to "Bernie."
Memorials can be made to Immanuel United Church of Christ, Big Rock; New Liberty Fire Department; or Bennett Ambulance.
Online condolences may be sent to www.chapmanfh.com.
Daily Newsletters