Bernetta Jean (Decker) Appleton

Bernetta Jean (Decker) Appleton, 90, of Edgewood, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at the Edgewood Convalescent Home in Edgewood.  She was born on October 20, 1932, on the family farm in rural Waukon, the daughter of Ernest Edward and Cora Ella (Smith) Decker. Bernetta attended Jefferson #7 Rural Allamakee County and Waukon High School. Bernetta was a hard worker. She helped her mother in the house and garden caring for the family of 10 children and helped extended family and neighbors when they had need of extra help.

On February 7, 1957, Bernetta was united in marriage to Randall Appleton in Waukon. Three children were born to this union. Bernetta worked at the S & D Café and Hale’s Store in Waukon before marrying and moving to the farm in rural Edgewood. On the farm she raised chickens, sold eggs, strawberries and raspberries, had a large garden with fresh peas, a special favorite, and shared garden produce with family and neighbors. She was always teaching and her green thumb continues in the family. Together they raised hogs with Bernetta managing the farrowing, beef with her bottle calves and row crops.

Bernetta was a great cook, baked homemade bread with her “grandma buns”’ requested for all family gatherings, enjoyed sewing, reading, crochet, embroidery and had beautiful flower beds after retiring from the farm. She will be greatly missed by her family.

Survivors include her children, Andy (Cindy) Appleton of Cedar Falls and Elaine (Perry) Sampson of Colesburg;  eight grandchildren, Brian (Elyssa) Appleton, Sarah (Scott) Cherne, Amber (Ryan) Jaeger, Brett (Kenzie) Appleton, Stefanie Sampson (Justin Moos), Jaclyn (Brent) Reilly, Holly Appleton, and Austin Appleton; nine great-grandchildren; sisters, Maureen Wagner of Cedar Rapids, Annabelle Marti of Waukon, Geraldine Theis of Fairfax, and Janice (Norman) Melheim of Butterfield, Minnesota; and sister-in-law, Betty Decker of Waukon.

Bernetta was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Randall Appleton in 2007; her son, Mark Appleton; sister, Helen (Maloy) Johanningmeier, Avis (Joe) Berns, and an infant sister; brothers, George Decker, Ernest Decker and Gerald Decker; in-laws, Carroll (Hattie) Appleton, Faith (Roy) Haines, Hope (Robert) Schenke, and Joyce (Ray) Jackson.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Edgewood Convalescent Home and St. Croix Hospice for all of their wonderful care.

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