Bernadine Van Heel

Bernadine A. Van Heel, age 82 of Grey Eagle, died Sunday, June 22, 2003 at the Melrose Area Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 25 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grey Eagle. Rev. Arlie Sowada will officiate and Rev. Robert Rolfes will concelebrate. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Grey Eagle. Christian Mothers will pray at 7 pm followed by parish prayers at 7:30 pm. Monday evening.

Bernadine Van Heel was born on June 17, 1921 in Greenwald, Minnesota to Joseph and Catherine (Deters) Silbernick. She married Edward T. Van Heel on May 18, 1943 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa. The couple farmed all their lives near the Grey Eagle area. Bernadine was a homemaker who enjoyed embroidering, cooking, playing cards and visiting with her family and friends. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grey Eagle and the Christian Mothers.

Survivors include her children, David Van Heel and his wife, Pam of Grey Eagle, Sharon Hell and her husband, Tom of Stillwater, Dennis Van Heel of Grey Eagle and Daniel Van Heel and his wife, Susan of Alexandria; grandson, Baron Van Heel; step-grandchildren, Aris Hesley and Emilie Solberg; brothers and sisters, Frank Silbernick and his wife, Leona of Little Falls, Elizabeth Rolfes of New Munich, Margaret Johnson and her husband, Woody of Brownsville, and Ken Silbernick and his wife, Jo Ann of Papillion, Nebraska; special step-grandchildren, Bonnie Olson of Florida and Rachel Olson of Minneapolis.

Bernadine was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Catherine Silbernick; husband, Edward Van Heel on March 2, 1994; sisters and brother, Irene Gerads, Pauline Silbernick, Eddie Silbernick and Ann Schiffler.

Serving as casket bearers will be Al Sobiech, Brian Silbernick, Harold Rhode, Bud Pendroy, Tom Pendroy and Bob Luskey.Serving as cross bearer will be Baron Van Heel and Bethany Towle as scripture bearer.Honorary bearers will be Isabelle Sobiech, Jan Sufka, Elaine Palbicki, Nona Walker, Alvina Call, Margaret Wolbeck, Lourdine Berscheit, Patsy Rhode and Mary Forsman.