Berneice I Quinn, age 102, of Downers Grove passed away on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at Oak Trace Health Center. Berneice was born July 13, 1919 in Astor, Iowa to Benton Boeck and Martha C. Hofferlin (Peper).
Berneice met her husband, William D. Quinn, at Northwest Airlines in North Dakota. Berneice and William were both radio operators. Berneice and William were married on May 23, 1944. The couple had five children, David, Sharon, Sue, Pat, and Pam. The family lived in Madison, WI for about five years after William left the Navy, then they moved to Brookfield, IL in 1952 after grandpa Anthony Hofferlin died. When the couple wasn’t busy raising their family, they were both active volunteers at Brookfield Methodist Church for many years.
Berneice was caring, tenacious, and energetic. She was a trailblazer, and became one of the first female air traffic controllers during WWII. She became a radio operator when all the young men were called into WWII service.
Berneice moved to Fairview Retirement Village (now Oak Trace Retirement Village) in Downers Grove around December 2000, and was involved in many social and volunteering activities until September 2019 when she moved to the Oak Trace Health Center. She thrived on community service by volunteering at the USO, Rush Hospital Alzheimer's Study, and her community nursing home, among other ventures, until her late 90s.
Berneice Quinn lived a full life constantly surrounded by friends and family. She served as a constant guiding light for her large family. Her daily energy, optimism, and perseverance serves as an example for all of her surviving loved ones.
Berneice is survived by her children, David (Cindy) Quinn, Sharon Rewerts, Sue (Randy) Risley, Pat Fale, and Pam (Chuck) Snyders; her sister, Bonnie (Virgil) Ewoldt; brother, Gaylord Boeck; 18 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, William D Quinn; her parents; sons-in-law, Richard J. Rewerts, and William A. Fale; her brothers, Russell and Virgil Boeck; grandson, Bill Fale Jr.; and her granddaughter Rebecca Rewerts Mesich.
A Celebration of Berneice's Life will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at Chapel Hill Gardens West Funeral Home, 17W201 Roosevelt Road, Oakbrook Terrace, from 11am-12pm, with a memorial service beginning promptly at noon.
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