Bernhardt, Violet Gwendolyn (Reynolds)

Violet Gwendolyn (Reynolds) Bernhardt, 102, of Guttenberg, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013, at the Guttenberg Care Center.

She was born March 31, 1911, in Agency, Iowa, the daughter of Homer Harrison Reynolds and Clara Belle (Rodibaugh) Reynolds. Violet graduated from Agency High School in 1929 and attended Ottumwa Heights College and later City College in New York. Violet worked at the Post Office in Agency in the summers of 1931 and 1932. She was a teacher from 1934 to 1935. She then attended beauty school and was also a self-employed beautician.

Violet was a veteran of World War II, having enrolled as a WAC on Oct. 22, 1942, and discharged as a sergeant on Oct. 31, 1945. Violet received a Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon and WAAC Service Medal. After her discharge, she worked as a substitute teacher in the New York City School System and in an office of a department store in New York City. On July 19, 1947, Violet was united in marriage with Carl Walter Bernhardt at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Savior's Atonement in New York City, where they lived until retirement in 1975, when they moved to Iowa.

Violet was interested in history and world events, crocheting and knitting. She lived in Guttenberg until she passed away.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carl on Feb. 25, 1990; brother, Marvin; and her in-laws, Christoph and Auguste Bernhardt.

Arrangements are being handled by Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 001 S. Industrial Park Rd, Garnavillo, where the family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28. Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. James R. Fiete PMA officiating. Interment will be at Garnavillo Community Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers and all types of sympathy, memorials may be sent to the Guttenberg Municipal Hospital, Garnavillo Dollars for Scholars or a charity of your choice.

Published Dec. 27, 2013 in The Gazette