Bernice Mary Sokolik

Visitation will be held at the Runge Mortuary on Monday August 28, 2023 from 4-6pm. A funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Tuesday August 29, 2023 at 10:30am. Please consider a donation in Bernice’s name to Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House.

Bernice Kempker was born January 4, 1930, on her family’s farm in St. Paul, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Ida (Overberg) Kempker. After graduating as valedictorian from St. Paul High School, she moved to Fort Madison and met Jerome Sokolik. They married October 1, 1949 in St. Paul Iowa at St. James Catholic Church. They enjoyed more than 71 years together raising eight children in Fort Madison before moving to the Quad Cities in 2006.

In addition to the myriad duties of being a mother, Bernice worked outside her home in a variety of capacities including food service at Aquinas High School. She helped manage her husband’s taxidermy business and emphasized education, but family was her true joy whether it was through family gatherings, visiting family and friends or watching her children and grandchildren participate in sports.

Bernice had a frugal nature that served her well. A quote describing this trait was offered by one of her children: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” (Boyd K. Packer). But most important throughout her life was her Catholic faith.

Those left to honor her memory include daughter-in-law Flo Braum, sons Mark (Rita Nafziger), James (Sara), Greg (Gisela), Steven (Janice), Tom (LeAnn); daughters Mary Kershner and Pamela (Mike) Brown; twelve grandchildren: Matthew , Emily, Steven, James, Michael, Catherine, Anna, John, Sam, Madelyn, Kiel and Kier; and twelve great grandchildren: Jack, Hudson, Vivienne, Riley, Jake, Jolene, Sloan, Sutton, Amber, Killian, Megan and Katy; her sister Dorothy Pollpeter, sister-in-law Barbara Kempker and many nieces and nephews.

Bernice was preceded in death by her spouse Jerome, her son Michael, sister and brother-in-law Ann and Richard Helling, brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Jane Kempker and brother Robert Kempker; brother-in-law Mark Pollpeter, sister-in-law Martha Misener, and brothers-in-law and sister-in-law Edward and Mary Sokolik and John and Rita Sokolik. May they rest in peace.