Bernice Meier

1933 - 2025

Bernice Meier

July 7, 1933 - August 19, 2025

Bernice Kardel Meier, 92, of Davenport, Iowa, passed away at the Clarissa Cook Hospice House on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. The family will greet friends from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, August 23, 2025, at the Runge Mortuary. Her funeral service will follow at 12 p.m. in the Runge Chapel. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Donations in her name may be made to the German American Heritage Center and Museum. Please share your condolences with the family at www.rungemortuary.com.

Bernice Ramona Kardel was born on July 7, 1933, in Davenport, Iowa, to Gilbert and Mabel (Schlunsen) Kardel. Bernice grew up on the family farm near Maysville and attended and graduated eighth grade from the West Maysville one-room schoolhouse. She remembered riding to school in the winter in a one-horse open sleigh driven by her father. After graduating from Davenport High School, Bernice was a secretary at Alcoa, saving her money for her future home.

She was very active in 4-H and held a statewide office. One year, Bernice made an award-winning presentation on whole wheat bread baking at the Mississippi Valley Fair and the Iowa State Fair. She had fond memories of her time in 4-H and made many life-long friends.

In 1955, she was introduced to Harlan Meier at a friend's house party. This turned out to be a carefully planned set up. Harlan had met her friend's husband on their bus ride to Des Moines to be inducted into the United States Army during the Korean War. After dating for six weeks, they agreed they would get married and one year later, August 4, 1956, they were married at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport.

After they were married, Bernice left her job at Alcoa to become a farm wife. She enjoyed being a homemaker and took great pride in having a beautiful yard. Bernice worked as a teacher's aide at John Glenn Elementary School when her sons were there and kept very accurate books for their farm and business ventures.

Together Bernice and Harlan enjoyed working, traveling, friends and ballroom dancing. She loved Fairyland and they traveled to many different venues to dance to many bands. One year they went to over 100 dances.

Bernice and Harlan farmed until 1994 and retired to Davenport, Iowa. Bernice was active in Questers, PEO and the German American Heritage Center. She also loved collecting primitive antiques, quilting, and playing her piano. She spent years researching family genealogy at local libraries, cemeteries and letters to relatives.

As a grandmother, she doted on her granddaughters and attended most, if not all of their dance recitals, school events, church children's choir services, birthday parties, horse shows, sports, plays; everything. In 2016 the Kardel farm earned a century farm designation, and she proudly attended the ceremony at the Iowa State Fair with her family.

Bernice is remembered by her son, David, his wife, Delia and her beloved granddaughters: Nell, Lee and Lana; her sister Doris Klahn; and five nephews. She will be missed by many lifelong friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harlan; son, Mark; sister, Marvella; and her parents.

The Meier family would like to thank the memory care staff at Ridgecrest for their care of Bernice for the last four years.

Runge Mortuary

838 E. Kimberly Rd Davenport, IA 52807

563-391-6202