Bernadine Moser

Bernadine Moser, 89, died peacefully of natural causes at Prairie Vista Village nursing home, Altoona, Iowa, on Saturday, November 1.
Bernadine was born in Des Moines and lived in Iowa all but eight years of her life. Her parents, Laura May and Cornelius (Case) Hols, raised her and her sister, Betty (Hols) Neese, on the East side of Des Moines where she met her first husband Calvin (Cal) Walker to whom she was married for 15 years. Bernadine and Cal had two children David and Teri. The family of four moved to Colorado in 1960. In Colorado Springs, she earned her cosmetology license and was a hair stylist for several years. The family moved back to Iowa in 1968 where she worked in retail and housekeeping while raising teenagers and caring for Cal during his six-month battle with cancer.
In 1970, Bernadine fell in love with and married her long-time friend, Dale Moser, of Norwalk. Shortly after, they moved into Dale's family house in Norwalk. Dale and Bernadine owned three businesses in Norwalk and were well known in the Norwalk business community as owners of Moser Skelly Service Station and the Norwalk Hardware Store, both on the corner of Main Street and North Avenue. In 1990 after selling the other businesses, they built a multi-suite office building at the corner of Main St and Hwy 28.
In 2006, she and Dale moved to a new lakeside home in Lakewood. They lived there happily into their retirement years before moving into an Ankeny Condo complex, Maplewood Village, where they made a number of close friends and were part of the village community for eight years.
Bernadine was artistic and enjoyed craft projects. For several years, she created ceramics and even had her own kiln. She won an Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon one year for a statue of white pearlescent stallions. She also enjoyed crocheting and made a number of afghans for her children and grandchildren.
In 2024, Bernadine and Dale moved into a townhouse in Altoona to be closer to family and in a location close to the senior living home she would eventually reside. The skilled care facility was a short drive for her children and grandchildren and just a short mile down the street from their house. Dale was able to visit every day and was there for hours a day until her last day.
She was a wonderful, loving mother to David and Teri and a proud and adoring mother-in-law to David's wife, Jan, and Teri's husband, Kim. She would comment that her kids were lucky to have found the perfect partners to settle her two ornery kids down and keep them on the right track. She was a doting grandmother to her 4 grandchildren: Lucas Peterson, Dustin Peterson, Vanessa Schaad (Nathan), and Olivia Walker (Ryan Marcum). She loved to see and get loving hugs from her five great-grandchildren, Elsa, Elim, Liev, Fiona and Levi. She also enjoyed every minute spent with her three step great-grandchildren, Ben, Lucy and Jacob.
Bernadine kept in close contact with her sister Betty for as long as possible. Betty has lived in Alabama since she was very young, so they traveled back and forth often to visit each other until the last few years. Betty suffers from Alzheimer's disease and is in a nursing home in Mobile, Alabama. Her caregiver has continued to try to keep the two in touch by phone as much as possible.
Bernadine often missed her late husband Cal and always tried to keep in touch with his family who were especially supportive of her throughout their marriage and also her marriage to Dale. The last surviving of Cal's nine siblings, Jackie Culp (and Jackie's family) continued to be important to Bernadine until the end.
For 55 wonderful years, Bernadine's marriage to Dale gave her the love and life that she deserved. She always expressed her love, gratitude and respect for Dale. He became a wonderful second father to Teri and David and in her final days, she let them know they were to be there for him after she was gone. She didn't need to say it. Both kids love and care for Dale and are glad to have him as more than just a stepfather, but a father for them in his own right and the perfect partner to care for their mom.
Bernadine was a proud, loving, and ferociously protective mother who would challenge anyone who might threaten her family. She tried to be a tough mom, but David and Teri knew she had a tender heart and could be an easy touch with a little pressure. It's good she wasn't rich during their childhood or they might have become spoiled. She had a quietness and a sweet nature but also tended to show a stoic bearing that could fool people. It was delightful and surprising when she would let loose her wry sense of humor or the whimsical part of herself. When she said or did something funny, she would make herself giggle until tears ran down her face. That would trigger everyone in the room to fits of giggles.
Bernadine is survived by her husband Dale, her sister Betty, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and Dale's late brother's children and grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, Case and Laura May Hols, aunt and uncle Earl and Selma Snow, first husband Calvin Walker, and many in-laws, cousins, relatives and friends.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful caring staff at Prairie View Village and her big-hearted Hospice Team from Every Step Hospice. They all made Bernadine's last few months of life as pleasant and comfortable as possible and went above and beyond to for the family.
Visitation will be 10-11 a.m., with her memorial service at 11 a.m., Thursday, November 13 at Iles Norwalk Chapel, 1020 Main Street, Norwalk, IA 50211.
A private burial will be held by the immediate family at a later date.
Memorial donations may be offered in lieu of flowers to Every Step Hospice Care and Support Services, 3000 Easton Blvd, #3, Des Moines, Iowa 50317.
To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Bernadine Moser, please visit our Tribute Store.