Mary Bernita (Meyer) Wilson

Mary “Bernita” Wilson, 97, of Manchester, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, June 25, 2016.  She was born on March 4. 1919, in Elkader, the daughter of Ernest and Agnes (O’Brien) Meyer.  She was the seventh of eight children born to this union.  Bernita was educated at St. Joseph Schools and attended Elkader Junior College. 

Bernita’s first job, which she absolutely loved, was working at the Elkader Press.  There she proofed each word for spelling and proper grammar before the paper went to print. 

Bernita was united in marriage to Howard J. Wilson on November 5, 1945 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Manchester. Bernita was an excellent seamstress, loved to read, and enjoyed gardening.  She belonged to several book clubs over the years. Bernita later worked for the Department of Social Services, where she enjoyed many friendships.

Survivors include her special nieces, Mary D. (Joe) Utter of DeWitt, and Mary Ann Curran of Eldridge; nephews, Gerry (Brenda) Meyer, Joe Meyer, Ray Meyer, John Meyer, John T. (Jan) Meyer, Tom (Becky) Meyer, and Greg (LuAnn) Meyer; and her special friends, Dick and Arkie Hood and Wayne and Vicky Wessels and family, all of Manchester.

Bernita was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Howard; her mother and father-in-law, John and Helen Wilson; her sister-in-law, Mary (Louie) Ryan; brother-in-law, Harold (Delores) Wilson; and her siblings, Johnny, Vincent James, Joe, Frank, Ken, Sister Ernestine (Dorothy) Meyer, Kathleen Meyer, and infant brother, Edward; a niece, Kathleen Kitchen; and nephews, James, Robert, Patrick, Jim, Michael, and Jeff Meyer.

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