Bernice Ethel Holzbauer

December 18, 1922 - March 4, 2021

Bernice Ethel Welker Holzbauer, 98 died on Thursday morning March 4, 2021 at Edenbrook of Oshkosh, WI. She was born December 18, 1922 in St. Louis Missouri the daughter of Joseph and Louise Welker. Her birth was the last of their 8 children. None of her siblings are alive. She graduated from grade school, but didn’t accomplish high school as went to work. While working she met Clemens Paul Holzbauer. Clemens was stationed nearby for the Army Air Corps during World War II and met his future wife before being shipped out to New Caledonia. Bernice would write to him daily. When Clemens came back from servicing the airplanes on the islands in South Pacific, he went directly to Maplewood MO, a suburb of St. Louis and married Bernice on Friday August 2, 1945. Shortly following the church celebration they left on bus for Oshkosh via Chicago. They only stayed in Oshkosh about a month and then had to return the trip since Clemens wasn’t out of the service as of yet and had to get to CA. Bernice went back to her family in Missouri. When Clemens was officially out of the service, they again took the trip north from Missouri and made Oshkosh their home until they died. Clemens passed away September 10, 2012. They were married for 67 years. Bernice/Clemens had 3 children. Delores Ann died from an epidemic at the hospital living only 20 days. Stephen Paul was next born. He lives in Fond du Lac. Steve has 3 children (Chris wife Lacy, Andrea & Will) and 2 grandchildren (Chase & Colton). Sharon Louise was the next/last birth. She and her husband David live in Cary, IL. They have 3 children (Adam wife Kim, Krystle husband Jamie & Kari husband Wade) and 7 grandchildren (Hailee, Kira, Coli, Emma, Jocelyn, Aurora & Jasper). She had jobs at different times of her life such as a cash register clerk at restaurants, housekeeping and taking service calls for her husband's place of work. When Steve/Sharon were attending St. Mary's she volunteered. Being involved with the PTA she ended up making this or that food-whatever was needed for the function. After having children, Bernice stopped/worked from home and loved raising her children. She would write daily to her sister Ruth in Missouri, Steve when he was stationed in Taiwan also Sharon when she lived in Okinawa with her husband! Bernice enjoyed playing games/cards with her children/their friends and then her grandchildren! Bernice had been a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church after they moved to the east side of Oshkosh since 1951. With COVID19 restrictions, her private service was held at Fiss & Bills-Poklasny Funeral Homes.