Berniece O. Witt
Funeral services for Berniece Witt were held Monday, March 12, 2001, at 10:00 a.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church north of Audubon, Iowa, with Pastor Bradley Ketcham officiating. Interment was in the Manning Cemetery in Manning, Iowa with Steven Foster Kowalski, Craig Linn Petersen, Woodrow William Witt, Philip Linn Ullerich, Dean Woodrow Ullerich and Michael Davis as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers were Jack Twist, Cindy, McKinzie, Joan Marie Kowalski, and Margaret Witt.
Berniece Olivene Witt, the daughter of Jesse L. and Margaret (Twist) Jones, was born January 18, 1913, at her parents' home in Audubon, Iowa. She was baptized at the Christian Church in Audubon and later confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church north of Audubon. Berniece attended Audubon Community Schools, graduating with the High School Class of 1930.
On January 18, 1931, she was united in marriage to Woodrow William Witt at Trinity Lutheran Church. They farmed the family farm west and north of Gray, Iowa for several years. They moved to Des Moines, Iowa where Berniece was employed in the office doing clerical work at a Firestone store. During World War II while Woodrow was in the armed forces she moved with him to Norman, Oklahoma where she was employed with J.C. Penney's. Later they were transferred to Indian Town Gap, a base near Lebanon, Pennsylvania and Berniece worked at a money exchange located on the base. Following World War II they returned to Audubon. Berniece was employed as a bookkeeper for Carlson Hybrid Corn Company for many years. Later she worked as a bookkeeper for the Exira Creamery for several years and later helped set up the accounting system for the Lake Panorama Development Company at Panora, Iowa. Berniece then worked for Kaye and Larsen Implement Company in Atlantic, Iowa as a bookkeeper and later was the bookkeeper at the Manning Agricultural Center until the time at which she retired in 1994.
She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and served as the treasurer of the Women's Organization at the church for many years.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Woodrow, on October 14, 1987; an infant son, Woodrow William Witt, Jr.; her parents; her grandson, Alan Dean Petersen; and her brother, Jay, and sister, Evelyn.
Berniece is survived by her children; Joyce Joan Quick of Marshalltown, Iowa and William Jesse and his wife, Elaine Witt of Omaha, Nebraska; her grandchildren; Cindy L. Petersen McKinzie and her husband, Michael, of Olympia, Washington; Craig L. Petersen of Marshalltown: Joan Marie Witt-Kowalski and her husband, Steve, and Margaret Carolyn Witt, all of Omaha, Nebraska, and Woodrow William and his wife, Gina Michelle Gibson Witt of The Woodlands, Texas; her great-grandchildren; Joanna Simon of Olympia; Danielle Petersen Lovell and her husband, Michael. of Carroll, Iowa; Steven Kowalski; Kelsey Kowalski; and Kara Kowalski, all of Omaha; Christian Witt and Carolyn Witt both of The Woodlands, Texas; and her great-great-grandson, Joshua Lovell of Carroll; her sisters-in-law, Selma Ullerich of Manning, Iowa and Carolyn Jones of Council Bluffs, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa was in charge of arrangements.