Obituary for Bernice Josephine Crees (Schreifels)
Crees, Bernice (Bernie) Josephine Schreifels age 94, Deephaven, MN (Previously Minnetonka, MN) passed away on March 23, 2023. We are comforted knowing that she is at peace.
Bernie is survived and remembered lovingly by her children, Robert (Jan) Crees; Steven (Lisa) Crees; Jeff (Maria) Crees; and Mary Jo (Barry) Thompson; her cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren Mathieu (Amy) Crees and Enzo; Caitlin (David) Dik; Hannah (Jordan) Bondley and Oden, Isla and Brooks; Michael (Chanel) Crees and Amelia; Melissa (Chris) Myers and Owen; Heidi (Connor) Johnson and Ellery; Eric (Alyson) Crees; Colby Thompson and Shay; Riley Thompson; her dear sister Eileen Wenz and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband Merrill Crees; granddaughter Juli Crees; parents Leo and Barbara Schreifels; parents-in-law Cecil and Clara Crees; sisters and their husbands Loretta (Marcus) Weber; Cyrilla (Leonard) Jost; Ronilda (Bernard) Jost; LaVerne (Phillip) Jost; brother-in-law Bob Wenz; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Norman and Bettie Crees.
Bernie grew up on the family farm in Marty, MN, close to St. Nicholas, MN where she was born. The family later moved to St. Cloud, MN where she graduated from high school. Bernie started a career as a bookkeeper while still in high school. She was employed by Sears department store as a bookkeeper in St. Cloud where she met Merrill. Later she enjoyed working as a jewelry sales associate. For many years, Bernice worked as an Election Judge for the City of Minnetonka, MN and as a volunteer for special events at St. Therese Church. After marriage, Merrill and Bernie lived in Wisconsin and Iowa before settling in Minnetonka, MN to finish raising their family.
Bernie was an avid bridge player, enjoying card games with her sisters and friends, but mostly loved spending time with family, conversations with friends over coffee, baking, cooking family meals, gardening and watching the Twins, Minnesota Gopher basketball and Vikings.
We are so grateful for the exceptional care and kindness provided by the aides at Deephaven Woods Memory Care, Brighton Hospice care team and her medical team at Bluestone Physician Services.
Funeral service Friday, April 28, 10:30 am at St. Therese of Deephaven, 18325 Minnetonka Blvd., Deephaven, MN. Luncheon to follow. Visitation begins at 9:30 am. Private interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association (act.alz.org) or the Juli Elisabeth Crees Memorial Scholarship for Graduate Students in Education, University of St. Thomas, Mail DEV, 2115 Summit Avenue, St Paul, MN 55105.
Bernie is survived and remembered lovingly by her children, Robert (Jan) Crees; Steven (Lisa) Crees; Jeff (Maria) Crees; and Mary Jo (Barry) Thompson; her cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren Mathieu (Amy) Crees and Enzo; Caitlin (David) Dik; Hannah (Jordan) Bondley and Oden, Isla and Brooks; Michael (Chanel) Crees and Amelia; Melissa (Chris) Myers and Owen; Heidi (Connor) Johnson and Ellery; Eric (Alyson) Crees; Colby Thompson and Shay; Riley Thompson; her dear sister Eileen Wenz and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband Merrill Crees; granddaughter Juli Crees; parents Leo and Barbara Schreifels; parents-in-law Cecil and Clara Crees; sisters and their husbands Loretta (Marcus) Weber; Cyrilla (Leonard) Jost; Ronilda (Bernard) Jost; LaVerne (Phillip) Jost; brother-in-law Bob Wenz; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Norman and Bettie Crees.
Bernie grew up on the family farm in Marty, MN, close to St. Nicholas, MN where she was born. The family later moved to St. Cloud, MN where she graduated from high school. Bernie started a career as a bookkeeper while still in high school. She was employed by Sears department store as a bookkeeper in St. Cloud where she met Merrill. Later she enjoyed working as a jewelry sales associate. For many years, Bernice worked as an Election Judge for the City of Minnetonka, MN and as a volunteer for special events at St. Therese Church. After marriage, Merrill and Bernie lived in Wisconsin and Iowa before settling in Minnetonka, MN to finish raising their family.
Bernie was an avid bridge player, enjoying card games with her sisters and friends, but mostly loved spending time with family, conversations with friends over coffee, baking, cooking family meals, gardening and watching the Twins, Minnesota Gopher basketball and Vikings.
We are so grateful for the exceptional care and kindness provided by the aides at Deephaven Woods Memory Care, Brighton Hospice care team and her medical team at Bluestone Physician Services.
Funeral service Friday, April 28, 10:30 am at St. Therese of Deephaven, 18325 Minnetonka Blvd., Deephaven, MN. Luncheon to follow. Visitation begins at 9:30 am. Private interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association (act.alz.org) or the Juli Elisabeth Crees Memorial Scholarship for Graduate Students in Education, University of St. Thomas, Mail DEV, 2115 Summit Avenue, St Paul, MN 55105.