October 7, 2019 – Slinger, WI – Bernice C. Yakel (nee Fitzgerald), 94, passed away peacefully on her birthday, Sunday, October 6, 2019 at Serenity Villa in Slinger. She was born on October 6, 1925 in Lyndon Station to John and Julia (nee Fox) Fitzgerald. She graduated from Mauston High School in 1944.
Bernice married her love, Hollis Lee Yakel on August 28, 1948 in Milwaukee. She enjoyed working at Jack Winter for 28 years, retiring in 1989. She loved playing cards, bowling, volunteering at the Slinger Food Pantry and St. Vincent De Paul and was a long-time member of St. Peter Catholic Church in Slinger. Bernice especially loved spending time with her family.
Bernice is survived by her daughters, Diane (Francis) Minor, Joelyn (Kenneth) Husslein; grandchildren, Tracy (Patrick) Strachan, Jeffrey (Maureen) Minor, Jason (Gwen) Husslein, Scott Husslein; great-grandchildren; Hannah, Sam, Jack and Ryan Strachan, Bode Minor, Carter, Ashlyn, Brandon, Logan and Kenzie Husslein; sister, Patricia DeBaets and her brother, Gene Fitzgerald. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Bernice is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Hollis Yakel, 2 sisters Mary (Ed) Scully and Helen (Max) Harner, 2 brothers Leo (Anita) and Joe, brother-in-law Eugene DeBaets and sister-in-law Donna Fitzgerald.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 12 p.m. on Friday, October 11, 2019 at St. Peter Catholic Church (200 E Washington St. Slinger, WI 53086) with Fr. Richard Stoffel presiding. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Interment will follow at Old St. Peter Cemetery.
A special thank you to the staff of Serenity Villa and Horizon Home Hospice for their wonderful care.
