Bernice Wulff

Bernice Williams Wulff was born on a farm near Centralia, Missouri. She attended a one-room country school and graduated from Centralia High School in 1949. Bernice moved to Columbia and took her first job as a bookkeeper with BD Simon Construction Company while attending the University of Missouri. She met her future husband there and married Al Wulff on June 5, 1953 soon after he returned from the Korean War. Al and his brother, Bill Wulff, started their own construction company and Bernice, with her keen sense for numbers, became their secretary and bookkeeper. She filled this role for many years and even assisted her son’s business until her sudden death.

Bernice enjoyed many interests during her life. She loved watching all Mizzou sports, Cardinals baseball, fishing on Hulen Lake where Bernice and Al raised their family, working at the Boone County and State Fair Horse Shows, tennis, traveling, sewing and quilting, crossword puzzles and reading. Bernice was passionate about genealogy and belonged to many national genealogy groups where she also served in executive positions. She particularly liked her travels to Washington D.C. for national conventions and to work as a “genie." Bernice courageously battled cancer the past three years so that she could continue to enjoy her many friends, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She recently resided at Lenoir Woods where she met new friends and renewed old friendships with many residents.

Bernice was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Al Wulff; parents; sisters, Fern Turner, Bette Powers, and Marilyn Williams; brothers, Darwin Williams, Earl Williams, and Raymond Williams.

Bernice is survived by her children; Linda Wulff Risner of West Plains, Missouri, Susan (Steve) Turner of Kirkwood, Missouri, and David Wulff of Columbia; four grandchildren, Meg (Bill) Krenn, Todd (Meg) Turner, Alex (Emily) Wulff, and Anne (Alex) Meiners; eight great- grandchildren, Emory, Noah, Liam, and Taylor Krenn, Caitlin and Cecilia Turner, Jillian and Louis Wulff, and baby Meiners due in August; brother Martin (Sue) Williams; sisters Selma (Donald) Burnett and Gayle (late Roger) McCoy.

Services: Visitation and Celebration of Life will be held on April 24, 2023 at Memorial Funeral Home 1217 Business Loop 70 West Columbia, MO from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM followed by graveside inurnment for both Bernice and Al.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri; CURE AHC at cureahc.org; Helping Hands Therapeutic Riding Program, West Plains, Missouri.