Monday, February 11th, 2013
Bertha Bruening
Bertha (George) Bruening, 85, Yorkshire, died of natural causes Feb. 9, 2013, at the home of her daughter, Betty Shappie, in Versailles.
She was born Dec. 5, 1927, in Darke County to Charles and Mary Kay Chappie George. On April 19, 1947, she married Arthur Bruening at St. Louis Catholic Church in North Star. Arthur died Nov. 5, 2008.
She is survived by four children, Jim (Becky Simon) Bruening of Penrose, N.C.; Betty (Carl) Owens of Versailles, Joe (Mary Mescher) Bruening and Bernadette Siekman of Delaware; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Frances (George) Monnin Holscher, of Osgood.
She was preceded in death by siblings Luella George, Eleanor (George) Werling, Leona "Toots" (George) McEldowney, Ruth (George) Petijean Thiebeau, Earl "Jim" George, Kenneth George, John George, Marion "Bud" George, Lee Edward George, Lester "Fat" George, Rose Mary (George) Kinninger, and Virginia "Jean" (George) Roll.
She was a member St. Louis Catholic Church and St. Anne's Sodality. As a mother, Bertha imparted humility and honesty in raising her family and continued to instill those core values in her nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Her faith and positive attitude sustained her as her parents, husband, 12 siblings and two sons - Jake and John, - preceded her in death.
A dedicated farm wife, Bertha was always at Art's side driving tractors, working ground, baling hay, gathering eggs and milking cows. Her whistle could be heard for miles when she called the family for supper. She was also quite a sharpshooter, placing second in the Annie Oakley Shooting Contest at the age of 67. She was a graduate of Versailles High School and was a life-long member of St. Louis Catholic Church and a member of the St. Anne's Sodality.
In her spare time she loved coloring with her kids and grandkids, planning annual Easter egg hunts on the family farm (she loved her chickens and eggs), baking angel food cakes, watching Red's baseball, gardening, canning, and visiting with family, neighbors and friends. Her favorite hobby was woodworking in the garage with Art, making hall trees, hobbyhorses, nativity cribs and rocking chairs. She was a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, neighbor and friend.
Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Louis Catholic Church, North Star, the Rev. David Zink officiating. Burial will follow in St. Louis Cemetery.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Wednesday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, St. Henry, and 9-10 a.m. Thursday at St. Louis Church.
Contributions may be made to State of the Heart Hospice, North Star Fire Department or Versailles Life Squad.
Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.
