Bernice Frances Schroeder

Bernice Frances (Kenworthy) Schroeder, age 104, passed away peacefully at Norseland Nursing Home in Westby, WI, on February 20, 2024. She spent the last four weeks of her life in their excellent care and that of St. Croix Hospice.

Bernice was born the second child of Juliette (Nale) and John Kenworthy on September 20, 1919, in Stark Township of Vernon County, Wisconsin, growing up on an 80-acre hillside homestead on South Jug Creek. She graduated from La Farge High School in 1937, and from Vernon County Normal School in 1939. She taught for seven years in rural schools in Vernon County including Otter Creek, Rockton, and Jug Creek where her duties included not only instruction but at a time when teachers carried in water and built fires before the students arrived.

On October 21,1946, she was united in marriage to Charles Harvey Schroeder and for the next 24 years they operated Schroeder Brother’s Mink Ranch in Stark Township, La Farge, WI. They retired from the fur business in 1969, when the property was claimed by the Federal Government for the Kickapoo Flood Control Project, an endeavor that was never completed. They remained in the Kickapoo Valley, building a retirement home overlooking the majestic hills and she moved to Viroqua shortly after her husband’s death. The last 14 years she lived independently in the Bethel Birchwood community with her beloved cats, Cali and Heidi.

Bernice had a great sense of community and service. She was a member of the La Farge United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School for many years and the United Methodist Women. She was instrumental in the building of the first medical clinic in La Farge and physician procurement, a member of the Star Valley School Board and was an award winning 4-H leader for the Kickapoo Rustlers. Bernice also served on the Vernon Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, Hospital Foundation and Hospital Auxiliary, Douglas Mental Health Services Board, Bethel Home Foundation, and the Historic Viroqua Temple Theater (ARTT). This year, she was recognized as a 50-year member of the Order of The Eastern Star Viroqua Chapter No. 35.

Her passion for preserving history, especially the history of the land, is reflected in her life membership in the Vernon County Historical Society where she served as a volunteer. She lobbied for recognition of the former Kickapoo landowners who were displaced with the failed flood control Kickapoo Dam project which was halted due to environmental and monetary concerns. Their memory is now preserved at the Star Valley Memorial site that she co-founded on the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. This site contains many perennials that were relocated from the original home locations in which she had a hand in transplanting most of them. She was instrumental in establishing the KVR Community Garden located at the Visitor Center where she worked tirelessly as a volunteer which bears a plaque with her name inscribed as “Gardener and Friend.”

Bernice defined herself through love of nature and the land and the bounty it has to offer. From hunting deer and turkeys to planting thousands of trees to reforest a 70-acre parcel of pastured land she called “Schroeder Woodland” embodied her passion and joy to pass to future generations.

She was preceded in death by her husband, C. Harvey; her brother, Eldon Kenworthy; sister-in-law, Betty Kenworthy; former sister-in-law, Beverly; niece, Marcia Kenworthy; son-in-law, Ron Hoffland; special friend, Kenneth Hanson; and feline companion, Cali along with many wonderful friends.

Remaining to carry on her legacy is her daughter, Kathleen Hoffland of La Farge/ Madison; son, Donald of Milwaukee; grandson, Kristofer Hoffland (Chad Lind) granddaughter, Jodee (Nick) Dushack; great grandson, Mason Dushack, all of Madison; her fur-baby, Heidi of Viroqua; and Roger Hanson and family of California.

Bernice’s family would like to thank Dr. James DeLine, Darlene Running and Jean Pintz-Olson (Heidi’s foster mom) of Bethel Helping Hands, Alene Hanson, Pat Rubasch, and Gary Hagen for their support for her to be able to live independently. They would also like to thank Norseland Nursing Home and St. Croix Hospice for their excellent end of life care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Driftless Humane Society or your local animal rescue, the La Farge United Methodist Church, or to sponsor a tree for the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Program using the following link - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiXaN56pWWb-bXMHU3pWJE2_CQ-_Peg2K4kv65BwkvuiYHRQ/viewform?usp=send_form

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 26, 2024, at the La Farge United Methodist Church. A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 25, at Vosseteig Funeral Home in La Farge with an Eastern Star Service at 5:00 p.m. An additional visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Bernice will be laid to rest at the Viola Cemetery with lunch to follow at the church in La Farge.

Vosseteig Funeral Home & Crematory in La Farge is serving Bernice's family.

203 N. State Street

La Farge, WI 54639

(608) 625-4244