Sixth Generation

242. Bernice Emma Wilhemenia BRANDAU was born on 30 January 1922 in Wellington Township, Monroe County, WI.^84,152,498 She appeared in the census in 1930 in Wellington Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴³ She appeared in the census in 1940 in Wilton, Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²⁰ Bernice appeared in the census in 1950 in Owen, Clark County, WI.⁴⁹⁹ Her occupation was "Primary Teacher, Grade School." She died on 4 August 2019 at the age of 97 in Watertown, Jefferson County, WI.⁴⁹⁸ Obituary Notes: "Bernice E. Ferries, 97 of Watertown passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 4, 2019 with her family by her side at Heritage Homes in Watertown.

Bernice was born on January 31, 1922 in Wilton the daughter of Conrad and Lillian (Pergande) Brandau. She worked diligently to get her teaching license in order to fulfill her dream to become a teacher and graduated from Juneau Co. Normal in 1941 beginning a great milestone in her life. Bernice later earned her Bachelors degree in education in 1960 from UW Eau Claire.

She married the love of her life James Hugh on August 8, 1942 in South Ridge, WI and the couple enjoyed 70 years of marriage before his passing in 2012. She spent most of her life teaching young minds, she started her teaching career in a small one room school house at the age of 20. Bernice and her family traveled all over the country, they enjoyed spending time together on all of their family trips. After retirement, Bernice and James continued traveling, even purchasing an RV to better accommodate their trips. After her teaching career she became a librarian and at the age of 80 she single-handedly created a church library for Woodland Lutheran Church in Nekoosa.

In her free time she enjoyed writing hand-written letters and sending friends and family cards in the mail, reading, scrapbooking, and crossword puzzles, but above all she enjoyed spending time with her family and later in life her many grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by those who were blessed to have known her.

Bernice is survived by her children Sandra Zenor of Watertown and Paula (Roger) Schroeder of Watertown, 4 grandchildren: Heidi (Paul) Hanus, Travis (Michelle) Sarinske, Justin Sarinske, and Sarah (Mark) Hraban-Humfleet, 9 great-grandchildren: Colton (Sckilay’re); Austin; Emmilyn (Mark); Lily (Dylan); Nathaniel; Sadie; Dylan; Taylor; and Avery. 4 great great-granchildren: Katie; Lincoln; Brooklyn; and Zander. She is also survived by a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson Jacob, sisters Alta and Beata, brother Phillip, and 2 sons-in-law Roger Sarinske and Clifford Zenor.

A funeral service for Bernice will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc with Pastor Rod Resheske presiding. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 am until the time of service. Burial will take place at 11:00 am on Sunday, August 11, 2019 at South Ridge Lutheran Cemetery in Wilton, WI. Memorials in Bernice’s honor to Our Savior’s Lutheran Scholarship Fund would be appreciated."

Bernice Emma Wilhemenia BRANDAU and James Hugh "Jim" FERRIES were married on 8 August 1942 in South Ridge, Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.^84,498 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, South Ridge. James Hugh "Jim" FERRIES, son of Vern Herman FERRIES and Beulah Emmaline DEMPSEY, was born on 14 November 1921 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.^152,500 He appeared in the census in 1930 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴³ He appeared in the census in 1940 in Wilton, Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶⁷ Jim appeared in the census in 1950 in Owen, Clark County, WI.⁴⁹⁹ His occupation was "Agriculture Teacher, High School." He died on 28 September 2012 at the age of 90 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wood County, WI.⁵⁰⁰

Obituary Notes: "James H. Ferries 90, of Nekoosa and formerly of Wilton, died Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, at the Wisconsin Rapids Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born on Nov. 14, 1921, to Vern and Beulah (Dempsey) Ferries on the family farm in Wilton. He was baptized at the Methodist Church, Wilton, and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Wilton. He graduated from Wilton High School.

On Aug. 8, 1942, Jim was united in marriage to Bernice E. Brandau at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, South Ridge. They moved to Milwaukee, where he worked at the Allis Chalmers Supercharger Defense Factory. After the war, Jim attended mortuary science school. After school they moved back to Wilton where Jim served his apprenticeship. Jim decided to pursue a degree in agriculture education at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, graduating first with a bachelor’s degree and later with a master’s degree. He taught at Owen-Withee High School for 21 years and for 10 years with Lakeshore Technical Institute as the coordinator-supervisor of the Agriculture Education Department.

He served as the past president of the Owen Kiwanis Club, Owen-Withee Education Association, past president of Owen Junior Fair, past president of the Lakeshore Education Association, he served on the Board of Directors for WAVAE, he was designated as a Honorary Wisconsin State Farmer, and served as the vice-president of the NVATA Region III. Jim was a life member of the National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association, a member and past state president of the Wisconsin Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers, Wisconsin Association of Vocational Teachers and Adult Educators, a charter member of the FFA Alumni Association, and Phi Delta Kappa. He was also a member of Woodland Lutheran Church, Nekoosa, serving as past president of the congregation and a past member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Manitowoc.

Although Jim and Bernice did not have time for a honeymoon when they first were married, they honeymooned all through their retirement. They enjoyed numerous trips all over the world. Some of their special trips were to Oberammergau, Germany, to see the Passion Play; Stonehenge England; Cancun, Mexico; Acapulco and a very special 80th birthday trip to Churchill, Canada, to see the beautiful polar bears of the north. Even though Jim enjoyed travelling to far distant locations, some of his most precious trips were spent close to home with those he loved so dearly, his grandchildren and brothers. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying visiting his brothers out west for elk hunting. He also enjoyed deep-sea fishing on the Gulf with his grandchildren. Jim was a man of high moral standards. He was honest to a fault and very passionate about those ideas he believed in. He was a proud grandpa, devoted husband and loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather and brother.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Bernice of Nekoosa; two daughters, Sandra Zenor of Nekoosa and Paula (Roger) Schroeder of Watertown; four grandchildren, Heidi (Paul) Hanus, Travis (Michelle) Sarinske, Justin Sarinske and Sarah Hraban; eight great-grandchildren, Colton Hanus, Austin Hanus, Emmilyn Hanus, Elizabeth Hanus, Nathaniel Sarinske, Mersadie Sarinske, Dylan Sarinske and Taylor Sarinske; a great-great- grandchild, Katie Scarlett Hanus; three brothers, John (Audrey) Ferries and Jay (Isabell) Ferries, both of Sheridan, Wyo., and Jeremy Ferries of Corvallis, Ore.; a sister, Margaret (Wes) Meachum of Wilton; many nieces; nephews; other relatives and many dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Jacob Hraban; and son-in-law Clifford Zenor

A funeral service will be held on Friday, Oct. 5, 2012, 11 a.m. at Woodland Lutheran Church, 280 14th Ave., town of Rome (Nekoosa). Pastor Stan Kwiecien will officiate. Burial will be on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, 11 a.m., at South Ridge Lutheran Cemetery, town of Wellington. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Woodland Church in Nekoosa and on Friday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service."

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Bernice Emma Wilhemenia BRANDAU and James Hugh "Jim" FERRIES had the following children: