Mabel A. Bernhardt, 74, of Clifton passed away at her home Saturday, March 21, 2015, after a courageous battle, while surrounded by her loving family.
She was born May 12, 1940, to Richard and Mae (Blaskey) Miller in La Grange Township. In her elementary and high school years, Mabel was very active in 4-H and received the highest awards. After graduating from Tomah High School in 1958, she went to River Falls University and received a degree in education. While attending River Falls, Mabel was very proud about receiving the Miss Newmanite Award for Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.
After graduating from college, she taught school at Janesville for two years. On July 25, 1964, she married the love of her life, James Bernhardt, at St. Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tomah. Mabel continued to teach at Camp Douglas School a year before she started raising her family. She also continued to substitute at the Camp Douglas and Oakdale schools for 30 years. She dearly loved working with and helping children whenever she could.
Her family of four girls, her husband and her grandchildren was always first in her life. She enjoyed attending their school events and the sports that they were in. The ever-busy life of living on the farm made it more difficult to attend events, but Mabel was always there.
Mabel was a charter member of the Clifton Sportsman’s Club and had been very active with the club since its beginning in 1975. She was a faithful and devoted member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church and served on the PCCW for many years. For several years, she was a poll worker for Clifton Township and became chief inspector until her health no longer allowed her. She was also a member of the Clifton Farmerettes, who helped out in the community by giving parties for the young children and special treats for the shut-ins.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, James; four daughters, Denise (Tom) Murray of Kendall, Lisa (David) Powell of Clifton, Teresa (Scott) Eberhardt of Kendall and Kathy (Daniel) Raffesberger of Chippewa Falls; 10 grandchildren, Erica, Josh and Nick Murray, all of Kendall, Tyson (Jennifer) Powell of Virginia Beach, Va., Tyler Ann (Steven) Downing of Milwaukee, Jacob and Emily Powell, both of Clifton, Cole Eberhardt of Kendall, and Ethan and Elena Raffesberger of Chippewa Falls, Wis.; a great-grandson, Zane Downing of Milwaukee; two sisters, Bertha Leeser of Hales Corners, Wis., and Berniece Helming and brother-in-law Calvin Pasch, both of Tomah; and two sisters-in-law, Doris (Roland) Kelley and Sue (Ken) Prielipp-Olsen, both of Tomah. She is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Terri Lynn Powell; a sister, Bernieta Pasch; a brother and sister-in-law, William (Diane) Miller; two brothers-in-law, Charles Leeser and Merle Helming; a sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Don (Donna) Muehlenkamp and Gary Prielipp; and her mother- and father-in-law, Gilbert and Leona Bernhardt
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 26, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 18316 County Hwy. N, Tomah. Father Graham and Father Leeser will officiate. Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Tomah.
Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4–8 p.m. Wednesday at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home in Tomah and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Thursday at the church. A parish rosary will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Mabel’s memory to Tomah Hospice Touch and Tomah Area Cancer Support (TACS). Online condolences may be given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
