Bernice Tessmann

Bernice Audrey Tessmann, age 76 of Madison and formerly of rural Cambria, passed away on Friday, January 25, 2013.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, 101 First Street, Friesland, with Pastor Luke Werre officiating. Burial will follow in the Randolph Cemetery.
Bernice’s family will receive relatives and friends at the church on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until the hour of service.

A memorial fund is being established in Bernice’s name for Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church or Peace Ev. Lutheran Church in Sun Prairie.

Bernice was born on March 13, 1936 in Columbus, the daughter of Amos and Merna (Jenkins) Dobbratz. She graduated from Randolph High School in 1954. On January 28, 1955, she was united in marriage to Harold Tessmann at Frieden’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Randolph. Bernice worked beside her husband for over forty years on their farm near Friesland. She was a dedicated farm wife, devoted mother, and loving grandmother whose priority was her family. Her sons were her pride and joy, and she always found time to play board games or catch baseballs. Notorious for “Bernie’s Brownies” and ice cream pails of chocolate chip cookies, her skills in the kitchen will be missed. Bernice loved Christmas time and collecting items for her Christmas Village which she displayed year round. She cherished the day trips she took with her sisters. Bernice taught Sunday school for many years at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church. Following their move to Sun Prairie in 1996, Bernice has been a member of Peace Ev. Lutheran Church in Sun Prairie.

Bernice is survived by Harold, her husband of nearly fifty-eight years, two sons: Daryl (Lisa) Tessmann, Neal (Susan) Tessmann, two grandchildren: Christopher (Kielia) Tessmann, Allyson Tessmann, her great-granddaughter, Anna Tessmann, two sisters: Norma Banes and Lolita Syens, three brothers: David (Beverly) Dobbratz, Jon (Winky) Dobbratz, and Eugene (Elaine) Dobbratz, sisters-in-law: Carol Krueger, Evelyn Schwandt, Lorraine Paul, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Amos Dobbratz and Merna Dobbratz Krueger, two sisters: Lois Zuhlke and Dorothy Chambers, her step-brother, Ivan Krueger, brothers and sisters-in-law: Charles Zuhlke, John Banes, Alfred Syens, Sweeny Schwandt, Merwyn Paul, and Walter Tessmann, Jr.