Berniece M. Woodburn

Berniece M. Woodburn, a longtime Waukesha resident, died on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at AngelsGrace Hospice at the age of 84 years. She was born in Eagle Grove, IA on March 12, 1929 the daughter of Henry and Catherine (nee Degan) Keppers. She was a graduate of Eagle Grove High School where she performed in theater musicals. Berniece received her associate degree in teaching and taught in one-room schoolhouses in Iowa. She then became a stewardess for American Airlines. On October 2, 1954 she married Robert J. Woodburn in Eagle Grove, IA; he preceded her in death on June 7, 1997. Berniece was a former model and beauty queen in Illinois and went on to judge Miss America Beauty Pageants. In addition she was a real estate agent and was last employed at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She was a member of the Kiwi Club and a longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she was active with the Christian Mother’s, Catholic Study Club, New Beginnings and where she initiated the visiting of the sick at Waukesha Memorial Hospital.

She will be sadly missed by her children, Mary T. Woodburn of Pewaukee, Kim A. (Dave) Krimmer of West Bend, Robert J. (Kristin) Woodburn of Sparta and Michelle K. (Karl) Roth of Watertown. Dear grandmother of 8 grandchildren David Krimmer, Wes (Kelsey) Krimmer, Natalie Woodburn, Brittany Roth, Christopher Roth, Melissa Roth, Amanda Roth and Courtney Roth; and 3 great-grandchildren Tyler Avendano, Hazel Krimmer and Henry Krimmer. Further survived by her sisters Leona Ford of Colorado and Lillian Brejda of Oklahoma along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to her husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Roger and Harold Keppers and her sister Helen Keppers.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2014 from 11:00AM until the time of the 12:00 noon funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 225 S. Hartwell Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186 (Corner of Newhall and Hartwell Avenues). Rev. Howard Haase will preside. Cremation will follow the Mass.

Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning services is honored to serve the family. For further information, please call the funeral home at 262-547-4035 or visit our website at www.waukeshafunerals.com to leave the family an online tribute message.