BERNICE A. DEGRAVE

Bernice Anna Lillian Augusta (nee Griebenow) DeGrave, 85, Burlington, died July 28, 2013, at Seasons Hospice, Waukesha.

She was born on Feb. 16, 1928, in Chicago, to the late Clarence and Otillia (nee Peters) Griebenow. She spent her early life and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Chicago.

On June 19, 1948, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burlington, she married the love of her life Roman John DeGrave. He preceded her in death on Oct. 2, 2002. Following marriage they resided in the Burlington Area near Honey Creek.

She was a cashier at the Red Owl Food Store in Burlington, a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burlington, a member of the hospital auxiliary for more than 20 years, and a member of the Honey Creek Civic Club serving for more than 50 years. She also served on the Honey Creek School Board.

She enjoyed baking, but her true passion was taking care of her family and the birds.

Survivors include her children, Linda (Theodore “Tater”) Weidner, Burlington, Steven (Sheryl) DeGrave, Palatine, Ill., Linda Lee Freese, Shorewood; grandchildren, Todd (Karen) Weidner, Christina (Jarmen) Czuta, Dan DeGrave, Dylan DeGrave, Cory DeGrave, and Austin Freese; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Katherine, Roman John, and Sarah Ann; sisters-in-law, Eloise Griebenow and Ann Griebenow.

She was further preceded in death by her brothers, Clarence (Evelyn) Griebenow and Martin Griebenow.

Visitation is Friday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m., until time of services at 11 a.m., at John’s Lutheran Church in Burlington. The Rev. Kirk Lahmann will officiate. Burial will follow in Burlington Cemetery. Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home & Crematory, Burlington, is serving the family.

Memorials to St. John’s Lutheran Church or Honey Creek Civic Club are suggested.

The family would like to give a special thank you to her nieces, Jan (Carl) Lorhenz, Bev (Larry) Lester, Gail and Carol DeGrave, Pam (Ron) DeVoe-Mertz, and friends Jim and Betty Johnson and Kitty Houle, for all their love and support over the years.