Marcella (Sally) Berning

Marcella Sally' Theresa, daughter of William and Margaret (Brincks) Schmitz, was born June 25, 1939, in Carroll, Iowa. She graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in 1957. She and Clarence Berning were married on November 15, 1958, at Dedham and lived in Breda for approximately 10 years. Then they settled in Carroll and lived there for 40 years. Sally worked at St. Anthony Nursing Home for 32 years prior to her retirement in 2003. She was a Certified Nurses Aide. Her true vocation in life was being a mother and grandmother to her six children and ten grandchildren. Sally was a member of Holy Spirit Parish and a supporter of Holy Spirit Women's Auxiliary. She was a great homemaker and totally enjoyed time with her children and grandchildren. Sally continued to focus on supporting the lifelong needs of her children. She loved babysitting the grandkids, cooking and good company. Sally was diagnosed with cancer and her health began to fail shortly before her death on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. She was 70 years of age. Survivors include her husband Clarence Berning of Carroll; six children and their spouses: Mike and Naomi Berning of Houston, TX; Kevin Berning of Carroll; Richard Berning of Carroll; Karen (Berning) and Thomas Smith of Washington, D.C.; Sharon (Berning) and Keith Stickrod of Carroll; and Scott and Jennifer Berning of Pella; 10 grandchildren; two sisters Erma Morgan of Boone and Rita Becker of Carroll; two brothers Donald and Pauline Schmitz of Dedham and Robert Schmitz of Audubon; and 10 grandchildren. Sally was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Raymond Schmitz of Lohrville, William Schmitz of Perry, Joseph Schmitz of Perry, and Louis Schmitz of Carroll; and sisters Mildred (Schmitz) Landon of Auburn, Mary (Schmitz) Swata of Des Moines, and Marlene Schmitz of Glenwood.