Bernice Hattie Byrnes

Bernice Byrnes, 93, of Colorado Springs, CO, formerly of Waukon, IA, died Thursday, June 15, 2017, at Constant Care Assisted Living in Colorado Springs, CO. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 23rd, at 11:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call one hour before services on Friday at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon.

Hattie Bernice Byrnes was born August 16, 1923, in Decorah, IA, the daughter of Anton and Ida (Hanson) Ellingson. Bernice was baptized and confirmed at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church.  She attended country school in the Decorah area and Decorah High School. On February 27, 1946, she married Harold Opheim. They lived in the Decorah area where they farmed together, Harold died in 1951. On November 21, 1954, Bernice married Duane Wedo at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, IA, after they were married they lived in the Waukon area. Duane died in 1977. She then married Mark Byrnes on January 7, 1984, at St. Mary's Hanover Catholic Church in rural Waukon. Bernice and Mark lived in Phoenix, AZ, before moving back to Waukon in 1998. He died in 1999. Bernice moved to Postville in 2004 to be near her son, Lyle.  She moved to Colorado Springs, CO, in 2016.

Bernice was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church where she was very active in ladies circle, bible study,  was devoted to Pastor Lynn Groe , and listening to Sunday services on the radio when she lived in Postville. She loved spending time with her family and friends. Bernice enjoyed playing cards with friends, and family, especially her great-grandchildren. She had a great love for all the family pets.

Survivors include her children: Lyle (Cindy) Opheim of Postville, IA, James Wedo of Winona, MN, and Mark (Cathy) Wedo of Monument, CO; nine grandchildren: Jason (Jenifer) Opheim, Nicole (Kent) Bailey, Natalie (Dan) Jakobe, Brett (fiancée Koryna Chiaki Rosalez Mong) Opheim, Heather (Joshua) McSweeney, Phillip (Deazarae) Karam, Matthew (Sara) Karam, Aime  (fiancée Cedric Smith} Karam, Nicholas (Connemara) Wedo, and Christopher (Brian) Mace; 13 great-grandchildren: Evelyn and Hazel Opheim, Morgan, Brooklyn, and Hayden Bailey, Jackson Jakobe, Aiden, Avery, and Lydia Karam, Katherine Wedo, Eira, Kota and Steven Mace; a daughter-in-law Sam Opheim; and a son-in-law John Raad. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; a son John Opheim; a daughter JoAnn Wedo Karam Raad; a son-in-law Francois Karam; and eight brothers and sisters.

Honorary casketbearers are Bernice's grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Casketbearers are Phillip and Matthew Karam, Nicole Bailey, Jason Opheim and Natalie Jakobe, Aime Karam, and Nicholas Wedo.