Bernadette “Sissie” Rose Unterberger dis at 93
Bernadette “Sissie” Rose Unterberger, 93, of The Meadows-Shell Rock, formerly of Waterville, passed away Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, at the Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly.Bernadette was born at home on Feb. 10, 1923, in New Hampton, the daughter of John and Rose (Tekippe) Eschweiler. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School for eight years and graduated from New Hampton High School in 1940. During World War II she was employed at Chamberlains in Waterloo. She then worked at First National Bank in New Hampton, which she loved. On Oct. 19, 1957, she was united in marriage to Cletus J. Unterberger at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Hampton. The couple made their home on Cletus' family farm in Linton Township in Allamakee County. Cletus passed away suddenly in 1982, and Bernadette stayed on the farm until 2010, when she moved to The Meadows assisted living in Shell Rock.Bernadette was a faithful member of St. Pius of Cherry Mound Catholic Church serving as Rosary Society Treasurer for many years, and currently was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Waverly. She enjoyed being a member of the Golden Girls card club in Rossville. In her free time she loved driving her car, knitting, sharing jokes, visiting with friends and family, and cooking. Guests never went away from her home hungry. She was always generous with her time and her resources, and she would do anything to help family and friends.Bernadette is survived by her brother, Merle Eschweiler and family friend, John Lyons both of Vancouver, Wash; Thomas E. Meyer of Osage, and Mary Jo (Richard) Love of Colorado Springs, Colo; Sheryll (Jerry) Harambasic of Lynchburg, Va, Steven (Deb) Eschweiler of Cedar Falls, David (Marlena) Eschweiler of Fort Wayne, Ind., Kevin (Anita) Eschweiler of New Hampton, Tim (Emily) Eschweiler of Woodbury, Minn., Todd (Amy) Eschweiler of Johnston, and Jean (Scott) Roers of Eau Claire, Wisc.; Fran (Wagner) Zichal, Mary Lynn (Wagner) ReVoir, and Jim Huffman; Linda (Wagner) Stowe of Minn., Greg Wagner of Minn., Creighton Huffman of Minn., and Robert Huffman of Minn.; Rita (Huffman) Van Dyke of Wisc. and Brian Huffman of Wisc.; Philip Huffman of Mish; John Kozak of Ill; Betty (Kozak) Qualls of Tenn; John Small of S.D.; Maureen (Small) Gibson of Calif. ; Also left to cherish her memory is her Shell Rock/Waverly family, Sarah, Jason, Grace and Ethan Reyerson, and many other great nieces and nephews. Although Bernadette did not have children of her own, she was a mother to all. She had a way of making each of her "kids" feel special, and loved.She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Clete; sister Mila Mae (Tom) Meyer; brothers John (Vi) & (Alice) Eschweiler and Robert Eschweiler; infant siblings Leonard and Geraldine; niece Catherine L. Meyer; brother-in-law Linus Unterberger; sisters-in-law: Mary (Unterberger) & Andy Kozak, Rita (Unterberger) & Maurice Small, Raphaella (Unterberger) & LeRoy Huffman, Alberta (Unterberger) & Francis Wagner, and Cecilia Unterberger; nephews Joe Small and Alan Wagner.Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Waverly, with Fr. Bernie Grady and Fr. Lou Jaeger officiating. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until service time at the church on Saturday. Burial of cremated remains will take place on Oct. 19, 2017, at St. Mary Cemetery in New Hampton. Memorials may be directed to St. Mary Catholic Church in Waverly and on-line condolences may be left at www.kaisercorson.com.Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly is in charge of arrangements. 319-352-1187
