Bernice Ann (McGowan) Dunn
January 10, 1933 - September 26, 2023
Obituary
Bernice's Livestream Service will begin at 11 a.m. central time on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. There are two ways to join the Live Webcast:
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OREGON - Bernice Ann (McGowan) Dunn, age 90, was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. She was born on Jan. 10, 1933, to Art and Jeanette (Sponem) McGowan on the family farm located on Highway M in Fitchburg.
Bernice graduated from Oregon High School in 1951. In the summer of 1950, she worked at Davidson's Cafeteria as a waitress. In the summer of 1951 through the summer of 1952, she worked at Walgreens Drug Store on the capitol square as a waitress. In 1953-1954 she worked as a telephone operator at General Telephone Company in Oregon, Wis.
Bernice met her husband, Vernon, when she worked for his brother's family. They enjoyed going dancing during their courtship and for many years of their married life. They were united in marriage on Sept. 27, 1952, at Holy Mother of Consolation Catholic Church in Oregon. Vernon and Bernice made their home in the "Storytown" area for several years before finally settling on their farmstead on Highway D in Oregon Township in 1964. Vernon and Bernice raised six children on this farm and later their grandchildren and great-grandchildren would enjoy visiting the farm.
She loved being a homemaker, especially cooking, baking, and collecting recipes. Bernice enjoyed crafting, taking photos, and making photo albums documenting family history. She also enjoyed writing poems, and writing stories about growing up on the farm.
Bernice will be remembered for being a very loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, sister, and friend to many.
Bernice is survived by her children, Donald (Shelley Christiansen), David (Karen), Diane (James) Foelker, Michael (Christina), Steven (Laura) and Karen (Michael) Larson; siblings, Helen (Ted) Valenza, Lois Gust, Robert (Sandy) McGowan, Teresa (Joe) Lalor and Nancy Skuldt; grandchildren, Matthew Dunn, Joshua Dunn (Misty Troester), Lee (Angela) Haag, Heather Haag, Devin Haag, Andrew (Alycia) Foelker, Sara (Michael) Moody, Keahn (Megan) Dunn, Kevin Dunn, Joseph Dunn, Paul (Torie) Dunn, Colleen Dunn, Ryan (Jenna) Larson, Adam Larson and Kyle Larson (Madison Maring); and great-grandchildren, Emma, Lucas, Clayton, Anabelle and Lila Haag, Travis, Natalie and Brooke Foelker, Jace and Owen Moody, Everly Dunn, and Aiden Larson.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two sisters, Clarice Hinchley and Judith Stark; three brothers, Gerald, James and Dale McGowan; several brothers and sisters-in-law; daughter-in-law, Betty; and two grandchildren, Christopher Dunn and Emily Dunn.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at HOLY MOTHER OF CONSOLATION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 651 N. Main St., Oregon, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, with Father David Wanish presiding. Burial will take place at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. A visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Tuesday. Memorials may be gifted in Bernice’s name to Holy Mother of Consolation Church or Agrace HospiceCare.
Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Oregon
Funeral & Cremation Care
1150 Park St.
(608) 835-3515