Memorial
Esther “Bernice” Gemilere entered the glory of heaven on February 18, 2015 at the age of 87.
Born in Waukon, Iowa on April 8, 1927, her family moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for her senior year.
Her cousin, Eddie Henrickson, was a shipmate with her future husband, Paul Gemilere. Eddie said, “Paul, you’re the squarest person I know in the Navy and I have the squarest cousin back in Iowa. I think you should write her.” The letters were the start. Paul and Bernice were wed on September 22, 1945 in San Francisco, CA. and they would spend 67 years together.
During that time, they would have three boys, Ronald Paul “Rico” Gemilere, Gary Leland Gemilere, and Terry Lee Gemilere.
They lived in California, Ohio, Minnesota, Arizona, and Iowa. In 2007, they returned to Minnesota to be closer to their sons. Bernice was suffering from Alzheimer’s and Paul wanted her near her son’s when he was gone. After Paul passed away and for the next two years, she would say, “I had a wonderful husband. I miss him so.” In December, 2014 that statement changed to “I had a wonderful husband. I wish I was with him.”
Today, she is with Paul and her son. I’m sure she is baking a pie for all to enjoy.
Bernice is preceded to heaven by her husband Paul Leland Gemilere, oldest son Ronald Paul “Rico” Gemilere, mother Mildred (Larson) Vangen, father Edgar Vangen, Brother Roy Vangen, and two siblings who died at very young ages.
She is survived by her sons, Gary Gemilere of Watertown, MN, and Terry Gemilere of Saint Louis Park, MN, grandchildren, Jordan Gemilere and Ryan Gemilere, daughter-in-law Shirley Gemilere of Wilsonville, OR, grandchildren Mike Crews, Glenn Crews, and Sara Jane Campbell, great grandchildren, Cody, Kaitlyn, and Brandon Crews.
Visitation will be at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, 4200 1st Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, February 25, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Please call Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home for additional information at (319) 393-8000.
Funeral Services will be at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 11:00 AM.
She was a wonderful mother and we will miss her so.