- Date Of Birth: April 5, 1911
- Date Of Death: November 9, 2018
- State: Iowa
Bernece Hersom, at the age of 107 years 7 months and 4 days, went to be with her Heavenly Father on November 9th, 2018. Bernece was born near Carmel, Indiana on April 5th, 1911 to Charles Edward Wyse and Mary Elizabeth (Knight) Wyse. After finding an ad in ‘Farm Journal’ for land to rent, Charles moved his family to Mallard, Iowa. Bernece attended a country school near Mallard; graduating eighth grade on June 26th, 1928. Bernece was united in marriage to Lester Hersom on June 24th, 1939 at the West Bend Parsonage after a 12 year courtship. Lester and Bernece made their living farming for many years in the rural Mallard area. Lester passed away October 12th, 1985. Bernece remained on the farm until moving into Mallard and then to Emmetsburg in 2007. Bernece was well known for multiple crafts and won many awards. Bernece was an expert cake baker and decorator. She was a master seamstress, making all of her own clothing, towels and other items. She created over 300 quilts in her lifetime. Bernece was also known for her doll dressing, crocheting and knitting. She did this all using a peddle sewing machine or her own hand stitches. Bernece lived through World War I, World War II, the coming of telephones and indoor plumbing. She loved to play cards and could be coaxed to tell stories of her life such as when Lester used a horse drawn buggy to pick her up for school. Bernece was an active member of the Royal Neighbors of America for over 50 years, a member of the United Methodist Church of Mallard and of Circle I and II of UMC. Bernece is survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Bernece was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Mary Wyse, husband, Lester Hersom, sister and brother-in-law Mary and Chris Madsen and several nieces and nephews.
