Obituary for Bernice Schieffer

Bernice Irene Schieffer

July 1, 1927 – July 23, 2022

Bernice Irene (Voise) Schieffer, age 95, of Perry, passed away on July 23, 2022. Born at home on July 1, 1927, Bernice was the second of four children of Henry and Winnie (Beier) Voise, Sr., and lived almost her entire life in and around Perry. She attended Willow Creek School until the eighth grade, leaving school to help with the family farm and raising her younger brother and sister. She completed her GED in 1958, while raising five children. Her family was always involved with music, by way of her father and mother playing for barn dances, and she and her older brother Hank playing for weddings and church services, beginning when she was 13. She began taking music instruction from Ashley Alexander at school, and then piano lessons from Mrs. Worth Roberts, but mostly learning on her own, playing by ear. Music continued as a family mainstay her entire 95-year life, both by way of playing countless weddings, funerals, civic events, school performances, and country dances, but also playing for her children as they sang at hundreds of school and other social events throughout their early years at home.

She married Walt Schieffer in 1946, after his service in World War II, and they lived on a farm northeast of Perry until the Korean Conflict, when he was recalled to active service as a fighter pilot instructor at Vance Air Force Base in Enid. After the war, they moved back to Perry where Walt worked for O’Neil’s Well Service Company and Bernice was a stay-at-home mom. Their marriage ended in divorce many years later. Always active with her family, Bernice instilled the values of faith, honesty, hard work, and the integrity gleaned from social involvement and participation in organizations. She lived a very full, very productive life, with her gifts of love, music, and humor being shared with thousands of people.

Growing up living life as a farm family, and later being a very busy mother to five children, Bernice dreamed of owning her own business and being independent. She fulfilled part of that dream by acquiring a Farmers Union Insurance business started by her father in 1948. With her financial management abilities, people skills, and willingness to share her love of music and social activities with others, her business grew and prospered. Along the way she continued playing music, baking countless dozens of cakes and thousands of cookies for all sorts of events and activities, all the while being a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt.

She is survived by her five children and their spouses: Dennis and Denise Schieffer of Greeley, Colorado, Marilyn and John Stroup, Weldon (Dub) and Sherri Schieffer, Ranay and Martin Roth, and Wally and Sherri Schieffer, all of Perry; 11 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, with one on the way; her younger brother Roland (Susan) Voise of Arlington, Texas, and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents, older brother Hank Voise, younger sister Nadine Eissenstadt, great grandchild Case Hughes, and best friend of many years, Bob Voigt.

The memorial service for Bernice is 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 27, at the Zion Lutheran Church, five and a half miles east of Perry on Highway 64, with a reception in the Fellowship Hall following the service. Pallbearers are grandsons Jon Taber, Russell Knox, Cody Roth, Matt Schieffer, Pat Maloney, Briton Bowers, Derek Oldham, and Nick Hughes. Honorary pallbearers are Wade Voise, Russ Schieffer, Peter Schieffer, Kevin Voise, Phil Voise, Todd Kale, Blake Coe, Don Long, Michael Houghton, and Randy Riley.

Those unable to attend the memorial service, may attend virtually on the Trout Funeral Home website, www.troutfuneralhome.com and click on the live-stream or toolbar icon on the top right corner after 1:45 PM. Memorials can be made to the Zion Lutheran Church Building Fund in care of Trout Funeral Home of Perry, 1408 N. 7th St., Perry, Oklahoma 73077.

Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home of Perry, 1408 N 7th St, Perry, OK 73077. We invite you to leave a message of condolence, expression of sympathy or perhaps share a memory of Bernice at www.troutperry.com.

Source: Trout Funeral Home