Bernita Kleinschmidt

Bernita June (Kistner) Kleinschmidt, 92 of Beardstown, died Monday, February 12, 2024 at Beardstown Health and Rehab Center.

She was born August 11, 1931 in Fulton County in the town of Bryant, IL, the daughter of Raymond Faye and Ada Amanda (Clark) Kistner. She graduated from Beardstown High School in the class of 1950. After high school, she moved to Springfield, IL and worked at Franklin Life Insurance Company and then Fiat Allis. On December 2, 1956 she married Vernon Dean Kleinschmidt at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Beardstown. Together they built a life around farming and raising a family. Bernita was an active leader in home extension and worked at the Cass County Fair food arena for many years.

After marriage, Bernita continued her faithful journey at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Arenzville where, with her husband, they raised five children. Dean preceded her in death on January 26, 2023. Bernita is survived by a son Kevin (wife Theresa) Kleinschmidt of Arenzville and their children Ken (son Myles) Kleinschmidt, David Kleinschmidt, and Paula (husband James) Hutchison (children Makenzie and Claire); a daughter Tamara "Tammy" (husband Bill) Baptist of Athens and their children Richard and Joseph (wife Fer) Baptist; a son Gale (wife Sherry) Kleinschmidt of Arenzville and their children Stephanie (husband Rusty) Menge (children Ruger and Gracee), and Kyle (wife Terra)Turner (children Kylee and Rylee); a son Brian (wife Lanette) Kleinschmidt of Arenzville and their children Adam and Anna Kleinschmidt; and a daughter Nancy (husband Stephen) Barnett of Good Hope and their children Philip (fiancé Daniela Salazar) Barnett, Jacob Barnett, and Zachary Barnett. Also surviving is a sister Georgia Fulscher of Alabama. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a brother, Larry Kistner, and sister's Louise Sexton and Bonnie Kistner.

Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Thursday, February 15, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arenzville. Burial will be in Arenzville North Cemetery. The family will meet with friends from 10 AM until the time of services at the church on Thursday. Colwell Memorial Home in Beardstown is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials have been suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church and School or Cass/Schuyler Area Hospice. Condolences may be left online at www.colwellmemorialhome.com or on Facebook at Colwell Memorial Home.