Berneice Esther Hager

A Mass of Christian Burial for Berneice Esther Hager was held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 13, 2014 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Perry with Father Paul Nguyen as Celebrant. A Vigil service was held 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. The Lector was Carole O'Hare. Eucharistic Ministers were Dan and Michelle Hager and Cindy Grgurich. Gift bearers were her grandchildren. Honorary casketbearers were Carter Tomas, Adelyn Tomas, Clay Cross, Clint Cross, McKenna Tomas, Mason Tomas, Dylan Eiteman, Delaney Eiteman, Marah Benbow, Camille Eiteman, Shyanne Eiteman, Noah Hogge, Lydia Hogge, Amy Schroeder and Carlyn Tilley. Casketbearers were Gary Tomas, Debra Tomas Cross, Andrew Tomas, Timothy Eiteman, Scott Eiteman, Christopher Hogge, Cassie Hager Smith, Trina Hager Tilley and Caley Hager. Musicians were Jan Pattee and Tracey Amano and Ushers were Bob Rounds and Bill O'Hare. Interment was at the St. Patrick Cemetery in Perry. Following the service was a luncheon in the St Patrick School Gym. Berneice Esther (Bauer) Hager, daughter of Esther Boos and Elmer Bauer was born December 13, 1922 in Dawson Township near Paton, Iowa and died March 9, 2014 at the Perry Lutheran Home at the age of 91 years. She attended schools at Paton, Beaver Township northeast of Berkley and graduated from Rippey Consolidated High School at Rippey. On June 10, 1945, Berneice married Thomas Walter Hager at St. Patrick Catholic Church and the couple had five children; Diane, Nancy, Cindy, Dan and Kevin. Berneice helped Tom with farming and also worked at Spurgeons and J. C. Penney. The couple moved into Perry in 1983. In 1990 Berneice started being a foster grandparent and lovingly filled that role for many years. Berneice enjoyed eating out and entertaining friends and neighbors with monthly get togethers and barbecues. She enjoyed gardening, knitting and sewing and even sewed the St Patrick Nuns' habits. Berneice also worked on jigsaw puzzles with the ladies at Candleridge. She was a faithful member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and the Guild. Berneice was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Tom in 1999, son Kevin Eugene, sister Lucille Robinson and brothers Delbert and Floyd Bauer. Survivors include daughters Diane Tomas (Emil) of Swisher, Iowa, Nancy Weigel (Paul) of Boone, Cindy Grgurich (Randy) of Johnston and son Dan Hager (Michelle) of Perry; 9 grandchildren; Gary Tomas (Susan), Debra Tomas Cross (Joe Wagner), Andrew Tomas (Heidi), Timothy Eiteman, Scott Eiteman (Kim), Christopher Hogge (Jennifer), Cassie Hager Smith (Tyler) Trina Hager Tilley (Travis) and Caley Hager; 14 great grandchildren; Carter and Adelyn Tomas, Clay and Clint Cross, McKenna and Mason Tomas, Dylan and Delaney Eiteman, Marah Benbow, Camille and Shyanne Eiteman, Noah and Lydia Hogge, Carlyn Tilley; nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends. Hastings Funeral Home 1417 2nd St., Perry, Iowa 50220 515 465-4691 403 North Elm, Jefferson, Iowa 50129 515 386-8181 hastingsfh@qwestoffice.net www.hastingsfh.com hastingsfuneral@netins.net