Bernadine J. Wessel, 91, of Seneca, KS, died Sunday, August 8, 2010 at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital.

She was born May 5, 1919 on a farm south of Kelly, KS, the daughter of Bernard and Caroline (Klunenberg) Schultejans. She grew up in the Kelly community and attended St. Bede’s School in Kelly. Her early adult life was spent working for families in their homes during times of childbirth and illness. She told the story that her first job was washing bottles for bootleggers.

On February 13, 1946 she married Lawrence B. Wessel at St. Bede’s Church in Kelly. They lived their first year of marriage on a farm west of Axtell, KS. They then moved to their home south of Seneca where they farmed and raised their six children. In 1971 they celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary. In 1978 they moved to Seneca, where Bernadine attended Sts. Peter & Paul Church.

She was a member of St. Ann’s Altar Society and the Sts. Peter & Paul ladies quilting group, where she was known for her talent of “marking the quilt.” She also contributed to the Society by praying the rosary for deceased women of the church.

Bernadine’s other interests were gardening and utilizing her green thumb for house plants.

She was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence on April 29, 1980; her brothers, B. Theodore “Ted”, Edwin, Bernard, and Albert Schultejans; and a sister, Mary Schultejans.

She is survived by her sons, Bob Wessel of Seneca, Steve Wessel of Bayard, NE and Glen Wessel of Coeur D’Alene, ID; three daughters, Laura Schmelzle of Seneca, Carolyn Pope of Blue Springs, MO and Doris Wessel of Topeka; a brother, Clarence Schultejans of Seneca; a sister, Ann Hasenkamp of Topeka; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Ed (Eleanor) Schultejans of Iowa; 27 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 AM Wednesday, August 11, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 &7 PM Tuesday, August 10, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given in Bernadine’s memory for Sts. Peter & Paul School or St. Bede’s Restoration Fund, and sent in care of the family.