Bernardine “Bernie” (Divis) Fiala was born Aug. 3, 1934, in Success to Frank and Agnes (Kubat) Divis and passed away early in the morning on Sept. 26, 2022, in Seward. Bernie was 88 years, 1 month and 23 days old.
Raised along with her sisters on farms in Butler and Seward counties, Bernie attended Rocky Corner, Prairie Ridge and Ulysses schools, graduating from Garland High School in 1952.
After getting married on April 29, 1954, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Bee, Bernie and her husband Edmund took up farming in the very communities where they were raised. As a young woman, Bernie gained a teaching certificate from the University of Nebraska and instructed area children at Romaine Country School in Northwest Seward County. Across her adulthood, she worked at the Base Exchange on the Lincoln Airbase and in the dining hall at Concordia University.
Bernie became a mother when she and Edmund adopted Rebecca in June 1965 and Patricia in August 1968. The family established their home in the very building in which Bernie taught, converting and expanding the simple structure into a beautiful farmhouse. For the next 50-plus years, Bernie and Ed farmed the surrounding land, raised their daughters, and lived long and fulfilling lives.
As a girl, Bernie was known to ride her horse to country school, play tuba in the school band, play the accordion and attend area dances. Bernie was an accomplished hand-quilter, completing over 250 quilts for clients, family and friends. If she wasn’t quilting, Bernie could often be found tending her vegetable and flower gardens. An avid sports fan, Bernie was a lifelong supporter of “The University” and its teams. Although volleyball may have been her favorite sport, Bernie never missed a Husker football game, either. Whether it be a family gathering or community function, social events were never long enough for Bernie. She would do her best to get a good “visit” in with everyone she could. Bernie was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and Altar Society in Bee.
Bernie was preceded in death by her husband, Ed; parents; sisters and brothers-in-law, Gabriella and Calvin Pavlish, Eva Shaefer, Florence Bartek and Mary Ann Divis; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Delores and Cyril Hain, Orletha Ann and Jerry Kane, Margaret and Bernie Maloney, Joyce Fiala, Ray Fiala and Donald Fiala.
Bernie is survived by her children, Becky and John Wallroff of Bee and Patti Popken and Kevin Kirkland of Garland; grandchildren, Corey and Olivia Wallroff of Lincoln, Brandon Wallroff of Elkhorn, Patrick Popken of Battle Creek and Rachel Popken and special friend, Jacob Daugherty of Papillion; great-grandson, Milo Wallroff of Lincoln; sister and brother-in-law, Mona and Robert Kunasek of Bee; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Sally and Stan Fiala of Chandler, Arizona, Dee Dee and Charlie Fiala of Garland and Marla Fiala of Lincoln; and a host of special nieces and nephews, other family and friends.
A rosary service was Oct. 4, and a Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Bee, with Father Raymond Jansen celebrating Mass. A graveside service and interment will follow in the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery near Bee. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Fiala family for future designations. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.zabkafuneralhome.com.
