Grace M. Bernhardt

Grace Mildred Bernhardt (Peper) age 95 went to her eternal rest on Friday, September 26, 2025, passing away peacefully at Willowdale Nursing Home, New Holstein, WI. Grace was born on Feb 7th, 1930 in the town of Morrison, Brown County, to Alma (Fels) and Arthur Peper.

Grace graduated from East De Pere High School in 1948 and married Alvin F. Nohr that same year. They ran a farm together just west of Lark, WI. and had six children together. In 1955 Alvin died of heart failure and Grace then moved to Reedsville, WI. with her six children. She worked in Manitowoc at the Tinsel Factory and also for a company that made Melmac dishes.

In 1956 Grace married Robert M. O'Neil in Reedsville and they had four children together. In 1962 they moved to Chilton, WI. where Grace worked at the Calumet Memorial Hospital in the maternity ward for several years as a nurse's aide. She also owned and operated O'Neils Variety Store for several years and then worked for Sugar and Spice Bakery in Chilton.

Grace was also a Delegate for the state of Wisconsin Al-Anon group for 3 years traveling and speaking to many groups in the state and also to New York for the national convention. Grace and Bob Divorced in 1982.

In 1984 Grace moved to Minneapolis, MN. And worked for Billy Graham Association as the Head of the Food Service Kitchen until 1991. There she met many celebrities including Johnny and June Cash, Billy Graham, and George Beverly Shea.

In 1991 Grace married Ralph Bernhardt and they lived in Manitowoc, WI. until his death in 2020. Grace and Ralph spent many winters living in Peoria, Az and doing a lot of traveling. Grace had a strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. She enjoyed attending church and Bible studies, playing the piano and singing in the choir. Some of her hobbies included fishing, puzzles, crocheting blankets, scarfs, afghans, and lap blankets most of which were given away as gifts to relatives, friends, and nursing homes.

In 2020, after her husband's death, Grace moved to Hayward, WI. where she lived with her youngest daughter, Jane Richardson and her husband, Steve, who cared for her for three years until moving to Willowdale Nursing Home in 2023.

Grace is survived by her six daughters, Judith (Mark) Anderson, St Paul, MN. Mary (Randy) Schussman, Amery, WI., Barbara Delger, Monticello, MN., Lori Hardrath, Merrill, WI. Susan (Terry) Hardrath, Kellnersville, WI. and Jane (Steve) Richardson, Manitowoc, WI. and two sons, James Nohr, Manitowoc, WI and Chuck O'Neil, Glendale, AZ., one daughter-in-law Beverly Nohr, Glencoe, MN, and one son-in-law: Ed Lorenz, Chilton.

Grace is also survived by her three step-sons, Wayne (JoAnn) Bernhardt, Wautoma, Wi., Gary (Deb) Bernhardt, Whitelaw, WI. and Michael (Roxi) Bernhardt of Cleveland, WI. and one-step son-in-law Mike Krogh, Manitowoc, WI. Grace is also survived by 29 grandchildren, 60 great grandchildren, 15 great great grandchildren, and some on the way. Also many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Grace was preceded in death by her son Robert J. Nohr, of Glencoe, MN. And her three husbands Alvin Nohr, Robert O'Neil, and Ralph Bernhardt. Also preceding her in death were her daughter: Kathryn Lorenz; three sons-in-law, Brian Delger, Greg Hardrath, and Gordon Schmidt, and one daughter-in-law, Jennifer O'Neil, Glendale, Az., and one step daughter, Sandra Krogh, and her three sisters and brothers-in-law, Florence (Ralph) Moede of Reedsville, WI., Priscilla (Mark) Helwig of Harrisburg, PA. and Bernice (Roy) Meyer of Peoria, IL.

Funeral services will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at Devotions Wedding Chapel (Lark Church), 7019 Dickinson Road, Lark, Wisconsin. Officiating at the service will be her son-in-law Randy Schussman. Grace will be laid to rest at Lark Cemetery, Lark, WI, at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, October 6, 2025.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. at the Devotions Wedding Chapel (Lark church), Lark.

The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home, Manitowoc, is assisting the Bernhardt family with funeral arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family by visiting www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staffs of Willowdale Health Services, New Holstein, and Calumet County Hospice, for the care and compassion they have shown Grace and her family. Also, thank you to Pastor Niel Piepenburg for the many visits.

How do you put into words that you had the greatest mother in the world? We may not have gotten everything we wanted growing up, but we always had everything we needed. Always in a house of love. You will always be loved and missed mother, until we meet again.