Bernice B. Knies, age 86 of Celestine, Indiana, passed away peacefully at 1:43 pm on Wednesday, May 18, 2023, at home.
Bernice was born in Celestine, Indiana on August 27, 1936, to Bernard and Theresia (Schroering) Kluesner. She married Jerome Knies on September 4, 1954, in St. Peter Celestine Catholic Church in Celestine, Indiana. He preceded her in death on May 23, 2017.
She was a 1954 graduate of Dubois High School.
She retired as custodian from Old National Bank in Jasper and helped on the family farm.
Bernice was a member of St. Isidore Parish in Celestine, Indiana, where she was a recipient of the Simon Brute Award, a member of their St. Anne’s Sodality, served as a religious education teacher, participated in CRHP, and helped with many bereavement meals. She was also a lifelong member of the Celestine Community Club.
She enjoyed quilting, gardening, canning, flowers, cooking for everyone, and spending time with family and friends, especially her grandchildren.
Surviving are three daughters, Pam Spencer (Tom), Birdseye, Iris Gadlage (Bernie), Celestine, Jill Thompson (Jamie), Jasper, four sons, Brian Knies, Celestine, Christopher Knies (companion Rhonda), Dubois, Jerry Knies (Holly), Celestine, and John Knies (Kelley), Evansville, 16 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren with two on the way, one sister, Yvonne Luebbehusen, St. Henry, and one brother, Arnie Kluesner (Alice), Jasper.
Preceding her in death besides her husband, were three sisters, Adeline Fleck, Neoma Sander, and Verena Egenolf, one brother, Ronald Kluesner, and another sister Norma Jean Kluesner who died in childhood.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Bernice B. Knies will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in St. Isidore Parish – St. Raphael Catholic Church in Dubois, Indiana, with burial to follow in St. Celestine cemetery in Celestine, Indiana.
A visitation will be held from 3 pm until 7 pm on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at the Becher-Kluesner Downtown Chapel in Jasper, Indiana. The St. Isidore Parish will pray the rosary at 2:30 pm at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Isidore Parish.
Condolences may be made at www.becherkluesner.com.
