Bernice Trowbridge

Bernice Marie Trowbridge, age 85, of Iola, Kansas passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Bernice was the tenth of thirteen children born to Joseph and Flora (Decker) Riebel. She was born on July 14, 1932 in Westphalia, Kansas. Her family lived in several places when she was a young girl. Bernice later moved to Rosalia, Kansas to help her sister, Helen, with her family. While in working as a waitress in Rosalia, Bernice met her future husband, Eldon. On May 2, 1955 she married Eldon M. "Too-ey" Trowbridge in El Dorado, Kansas. This union was blessed with seven children. They made their first home on a farm near Rosalia, moving to town in 1965. Eldon passed away from cancer at the age of 47, on October 18, 1972. In 1979 Bernice moved to Iola to be near her family. She worked at Gates from September of 1979 to April of 1993. Bernice was a devout Catholic, attending Mass several times a week. She was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, Iola. She enjoyed putting puzzles together, and then sharing the completed puzzle with friends and family. She loved to work in her yard and tend to her flowers. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family and caring for her daughter with Downs Syndrome, Patti, who she shared her home with. Bernice was preceded in death by her husband, Eldon; one great granddaughter; four sisters; five brothers; and two sons-in-laws. She is survived by a son, Lyle Trowbridge and wife, Connie of Iola, Kansas; daughters, Wanda Craft and husband, James of Emporia, Kansas, Maxine Escobar of Hanford, California, Beverly Harris of Chanute, Kansas, Gayla Purcell and husband, George of Iola, Kansas, Patti Trowbridge of Iola, Kansas, and Laura Mathews and husband, Mark of Lindsay, Oklahoma; 24 grandchildren; 51 great grandchildren; 6 great-great grandchildren; two brothers, Earl Riebel of LaHarpe, Kansas and Anthony Riebel and wife, Nancy of Independence, Missouri; sister Flora May Gaylor of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, January 19, 2018, at St. John's Catholic Church, Iola. A parish Rosary will be recited at 10:00 AM, Friday prior to the Mass. Rosary Burial will follow at 2:30 PM, Friday in the Blankenship Cemetery, Rosalia, Kansas. The family will greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Thursday, January 18, 2018 at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 1883 US Hwy. 54, Iola. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Diabetes Association and may be left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .