Bernice Carter

Bernice (Bruce) Carter passed away on August 30, 2017 at Regency Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jefferson, Iowa at the age of 96. A memorial Mass will be held at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Grand Junction, Iowa at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 23, 2017, preceded by the Catholic Daughters’ Rosary beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Brigid Catholic Church. Visitation with the family will be held after the Mass during lunch. Private burial of the cremains will be done by the family.

Bernice was born in Colo, Iowa, on February 28, 1921, the sixth of seven children born to Charles and Mabelle Alvina (Bergeron) Bruce. Bernice graduated from Grand Junction High School with the class of 1938. After graduation she worked for the engineering department at Iowa State University. On October 19, 1945, Bernice married John (Jack) Carter at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Grand Junction. The couple owned and operated a restaurant, Jack’s Lunch, for twelve years. During that time six of their seven children were born. The family moved to a house on Hager Street, where the seventh child was born and the couple owned and operated a variety store and Mobile tank wagon service.

In 1965 the family moved to Ames, Iowa, where they owned and operated the Carter House, an off campus residence building for male college students. The couple hosted Sunday night desserts for their residents which became a big social event. During this time Bernice began typing master’s and doctoral thesis and continued doing this for many years. The couple operated the Greyhound Bus Depot in Ames where Bernice served as bookkeeper. She also worked at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Student Center. Her final job was as a receptionist and customer correspondence agent at The Greater Iowa Credit Union where she worked until she was 85.

Bernice was a 50+ year member of the Catholic Daughters of America. She coordinated the Love Thy Neighbor program and sewed baptismal gowns for St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church. She coordinated the Eucharistic Adoration at St. Cecilia’s and was often a substitute at all hours of the day and night. Her Catholic faith was of great importance to her.
Bernice was a Cub Scout and Brownie leader and taught CCD when her children were growing up. She was an avid bridge player all of her life and she belonged to several local card groups. She was a voracious reader, competitive game player, able seamstress and furniture refinisher.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Charles and Alvina; her husband, Jack; brother, Hubert (May); sisters: Thelma Kinsella (Lyle), Maxine Younie (Bud), Geraldine Lorenzo (Victor) and Patricia Heinle (Ray); brother-in-law, Harry Horsman; daughter, Barbara Carter Gannon; granddaughter, Kellie Gannon; son-in-law, Bob Scharingson; sisters-in-law: Marjorie Coon (Max), Elsie Morley Heckett (John Morley, Dale Heckett) and Velma Burton (Bud); and mother-in-law, Mary (Crossman) Carter.

Survivors include her sister, Huberta Horsman; daughters: Jan Scharingson, Susan (Thomas) Barnwell, Joan (Dave) Sherwood and Annette (Scott) Nelson; and sons, Chuck (Jane) Carter and Dick (Jean) Carter; 16 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Ames Public Library, St. Croix Hospice or a charity of your choice.  

Arrangements by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson, 515-386-2171.