Bernice Maxine Nachtigal

Sibley, IA        Bernice Nachtigal, age 94 of Sibley, IA died on Friday, November 11, 2016 at Sibley Specialty Care in Sibley, IA.        Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sibley, with Reverend Barbara Kopperud officiating.        Burial will follow at the Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley, IA.        Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sibley.        Bernice Maxine (Lopau) Nachtigal was born September 9, 1922 in Pipestone County, Holland, MN, the daughter of Henry and Minnie (Kruger) Lopau. She attended country school there, and in the spring of 1933, when she was ten years old, moved with her family to her Grandfather Lopau’s farm near Sibley, IA. She then finished her schooling in Wilson Township.        Bernice and her family joined Trinity Lutheran, a small country church. Later the church was moved to Sibley, IA. She attended Sunday school and was confirmed in this church. On October 29, 1954 Bernice was united in marriage to Roger F. Nachtigal at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sibley, IA. Together they farmed the home place until moving into town in the 1970’s. Bernice loved the farm life. She had a garden and canned much of her produce. She liked working with her husband, doing chores, and helping where she could in the fields. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary. Bernice worked at many people-oriented jobs in her lifetime. She continued her work in Sibley at the local shoe store, hospital, grocery store, and drive-in. She loved her interaction with people, and always had time to hear their stories as well as share her own.        Bernice was a loving and outgoing person. At one time she stayed in the Voss Home in Lakefield, MN for a week to care for her nieces and nephews while their parents were in Russia on a Farm Bureau trip. Together she managed the chores and getting the children off to school. Bernice and her husband Roger liked to travel, too. They enjoyed trips to California, Las Vegas, and various bus trips. They also loved playing cards, such as pinochle and “500” with family and friends.        Bernice’s husband Roger died September 23, 2002 at the age of 83. Bernice continued to live in her home in Sibley until December 2006 when she moved into Sibley Nursing and Rehab. Bernice liked living there, and had a nice room where she could see all the coming and going from her big picture window.        Survivors include sisters Dolores Hulzebos of Canby, MN, Violet (Leon) Voss of Lakefield, MN, and Marcella (Lester) Renken of Sibley, IA: brothers Roger Lopau of Sibley, IA and Robert Lopau of George, IA; special friends Dennis and Crystal Clark of Little Rock, IA, and host of nieces and nephews.        Bernice was preceded in death by her husband Roger, parents Henry and Minnie Lopau, brothers Marvin Lopau and Byron Lopau, brother and sister Melvin and Rosemary in infancy, brother-in-law, Doedo Hulzebos, and sisters-in-law Diann Lopau, Evelyn Lopau, and Byron’s 2nd wife Alvina (Brower) Lopau, and brother-in-law, Elmer Nachtigal.