Bernice Thies

Bernice LaVonne Thies, 94, of Waukon, Iowa, passed Thursday, September 5, 2024, at her home. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 10, at 11:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial will be at Old West Paint Creek Cemetery, rural Waukon. Bernice will be laid to rest alongside her husband, Leonard, her parents and her brother James. Friends may greet the family from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Monday, September 9, at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. John's Lutheran Church or Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church.

Bernice was born October 2, 1929, in Maud, Allamakee County, Iowa, the daughter of Theodore and Esther (Kolsrud) Geving. In 1947, she graduated from Waukon High School. A week later, on June 4, 1947, Leonard Frederick Thies and Bernice LaVonne Geving were married at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church. With eight kids, Bernice was a hardworking, devoted mother who took the time to create special moments and cooked great meals. They lived in a tightknit neighborhood and made special bonds with the neighbors. They had a revolving door of visitors throughout the years from kids and grandkids coming and going; with neighbors and friends frequently stopping by. Bernice was also the office manager at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon for a long time, retiring in the early 1990s.

She grew up a member of Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon and was baptized, confirmed, and married there. Bernice and Leonard joined St. John's Lutheran Church, where she participated in various circles within the church and Ladies' Aid, delivered church bulletins, and was an election poll worker. She was actively involved in the VFW Auxiliary serving in multiple leadership positions as well. She and Leonard were in the Allamakee Antique Auto Club and enjoyed taking out their 1936 Ford Coupe. They loved dancing and could frequently be found tearing up the dancehalls, including ones in Milwaukee, or just cutting a rug at home. In 2009, she made a special trip to Norway to visit her ancestors' homes. Bernice loved having fun whether it was collecting rooster items, playing cards, and going trick-or-treating with friends in her 80s.

Bernice is survived by her children: Karen (Cletus) Mathis, Kathy (Daniel) Mathis, James (Marilyn) Thies, Kim (Barbara) Thies, Mark Thies, Larry (Elaine) Thies, Todd Thies, and Ronn (Renee) Thies; 21 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; a brother Richard (Marian) Geving of Cody, Wyoming; and her best friend and cousin LaVonne Hesse of Waukon.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Leonard in 2007; two grandchildren: Meghan Lane Thies and Elizabeth Faith Thies, and Lance Schmitt; her sister Eleanor (Robert) Kloke; and brother James Geving.

Honorary casketbearers are her grandchildren: Jennifer Durham, Sara Schmitt, Kelly Deeney, Amy Byrnes, Alexandra Thies, Stephanie Winegar, Liza DeVillers, and Emma, Mallory, Leah, Ella Thies, Jim, Michael, Vaughn Mathis, Eric Mathis, Christopher Thies, TJ Thies, Carter Thies, Andrew and Matthew Thies, and Mitchell Thies. Additional honorary casketbearers are the wives of her grandsons: Gloria and Lindy Mathis, Annalie, Laura, Brianna and Jada Thies. Bernice's sons will serve as casketbearers.