Bernice Mae Celius

Bernice Mae Celius, 93, of La Crosse, died on Saturday, September 29, 2018, at the Hillview Health Care Center.

She was born on August 6, 1925 in Fountain City, Wis., to Joseph and Emma (Schmidt) Tillman.  She married Wesley F. Celius on November 21, 1945 in Winona, Minn.  Wes preceded her in death on May 8, 1978.

Bernice was blessed with many talents.  She was accomplished at oil painting and crafting, as well as sewing, and hosted, “Sewing Is Fun”, at 10:30 p.m. on Channel 8 for several years in the 1960’s.  She was also a talented musician and played trumpet for many years with the Swiss Girls, the Jolly Swiss Boys, and the Jolly Swiss Rangers, which was her family’s band.

Bernice is survived by two children, Jim (Pat) Celius and Diana (Gene) Pfaff; son-in-law, Robert Mahr; her grandchildren, Lisa Celius, Lori (Dennis) Woods, Lana (Aaron) Stremick, Lynn (Keith) Franklin, Joseph (Angela) Pfaff, Christina (Michael) Eder, Raymond (Stephanie) Mahr, and Catherina (Danny) Novy; her great grandchildren, Hanna and Thomas Stremick, Isabelle and Noah Franklin, Harley, Drew and Ashton Pfaff, Jasmine Tarjeson, Todd (Candace) Eder, and Westley and Evan Mahr; great, great grandchildren, Marley, Eleanor and Teagan; and many nieces and nephews.  In addition to her husband, Wes, Bernice was also preceded in death by a daughter, Carol Mahr, in 2015; granddaughter, Angel Tarjeson in 2008; two sisters, Sylvia Vogelsang and Marie Harris; and brothers, Harry, Alvin and Leonard Tillman.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 3 ^rd , at Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, 2006 Weston St., La Crosse.  Rev. Brian D. Konopa will officiate.  Entombment will follow in the St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum in the Catholic Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass on Wednesday at the church.