In Memory of Bernice Caroline O'Tool

A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 10, 2015, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ida Grove, Iowa.  The Father Richard D. Ball will officiate. Interment will be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m.to 8:00 p.m., with a Rosary Service held at 5:00 p.m. and a vigil service held at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 9, 2015 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Christensen ~ Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com 

Bernice C. O’Tool was born on January 25, 1926 in Rural Breda, Iowa to John and Clara (Schoo) Forke.

Bernice was baptized into her faith at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda, Iowa. She attended school at St. Bernard’s and graduated from high school in 1943.

Bernice married Ivan O’Tool on May 28, 1949 in St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, the couple made their home in Carroll, Iowa. Bernice and Ivan were blessed with three children: Janice, Dean, and Mark. The family relocated to Ida Grove, Iowa in 1953.

While raising her family Bernice worked part-time outside of the home. Bernice worked as a cook at Morningside Nursing Home and then at Coast to Coast as a clerk. After Bernice retired she took pleasure in traveling, especially down South for the winter.

Bernice enjoyed: playing cards, casino hopping, volunteer work, and spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Bernice was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, she was a 50 year member of the American Legion Auxiliary where she served as past president, and an officer for Ida County Legion Auxiliary.

Bernice also belonged to the Horn Hospital Auxiliary and Morningside Health Care Auxiliary, where she helped with bingo and making rosaries.

Bernice is survived by her children, Janice (Don) Wohlert of Bronson, Iowa; Dean (Jane) O’Tool of Ida Grove, Iowa;  Mark (Linda) O’Tool of Odebolt, Iowa; eleven grandchildren: Jeff (Fran) O’Tool, Brian O’Tool, Greg Wohlert, Kristopher (April) O’Tool, Bridgett (Alex) Lauerman, Anthony O’Tool, Aaron O’Tool, Shawn O’Tool, Lacie (Jamie) Onken, Kaytlin (Clint) Maddix, Alan Peine, Jr.; fourteen great grandchildren; sisters, Maurine Forke of Breda, Iowa; Pat Mohr of Manning, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Elvira Tiefenthaler of Carroll, Iowa; Iola Muhlbauer of Manning, Iowa; Rosemarie McAlister of Bayard, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Ivan O’Tool; parents, John and Clara Forke; parents-in-law, Peter and Barbara O’Tool; brothers: Ivan Forke, Arnold Forke, and Vernice Forke; sister, Irene Forke; two grandchildren, Peter O’Tool and Gail d’Auguste.