Bernadette Ann Scherder

With great sorrow and bittersweet gratitude, the Jennings, Johnson, Brewster and Scherder families announce the untimely passing of our kind, caring, and unimaginably selfless sister, aunt, and friend, Bernadette Ann Scherder “Bern”, age 68, who passed away peacefully on August 9th, 2023, surrounded by family and friends. Visitation will be at St. Clement Catholic Church on Saturday, August 12th at 9:30 a.m. Following will be mass at 11:00 a.m. which will be officiated by Fr. Ussher and Deacon Mark Dobleman. Bibb-Veach Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Bern was born January 3rd, 1955, in Louisiana, MO to Edwin and Virginia Scherder (Ebers). A lifelong St. Clement community and parish resident, Bern attended St. Clement School through 8th grade, which included having her older sibling Mary Jo as a teacher. In that class she learned her initials, BS, also stood for something else, which made her smile. She graduated from Bowling Green High School and went on to earn her bachelor’s in special education and master’s degree in counseling from what is now Truman State University. She was selected by her professors as a lifelong member of the educational fraternity Phi Delta Kappa International. Lovingly remembered and survived by her siblings: Mary Jo Jennings (Arch), AJ Scherder (Judy), Pat Johnson, Dorothy Brewster (Don), Larry Scherder (Debbie) and Rob Scherder (Cathy) as well as 12 nieces and nephews: Anissa Tonjes (Joe), Jennifer Sick (Joe), Steve Brewster (Morgan), Carla Berkoetter (Kevin), Kelly Constable (Teddy), Tracy Woodworth (Travis), Scott Brewster, Brian Scherder (Carey), Angela Thompson (JT), Carrie Kallash (Kenny), Sarah O’Brien (Eddie) and Lindsey Garringer (Aaron). Bern was preceded in death by her parents, brother-in-law Paul Johnson and niece Catherine Sick. Her passion was being the Guidance Counselor at Palmyra High School. She took pride in helping each and every student in their path forward in a very personal, memorable, and caring way. She wanted her students to succeed and provided them with the tools and counsel to do so. In the spring of 1991, she returned home to pursue her love of farming with her brothers (the boys) on the farm and to care for her mother. She helped in the fields, drove the grain trucks, maintained the Scherder Farms feed store, and managed the “Pig Palace”. Bern, in the most loving, fun, honest, welcoming, funny, and direct way, dedicated her life to her family and friends. She was known for unselfishly offering her help in any circumstance to anyone in need. While she did not have children of her own, she nurtured 12 nieces and nephews. She shared a very special and unique bond full of life skills, patience, jokes, and ornery behavior as a partner in crime. One said, “I don’t remember spending a moment with Aunt Bern when I felt she wanted to be anywhere else than hanging out with me”. This sentiment was also shared with all the lives she touched. Her hobbies and interests included family, hunting, motorcycles, dancing, drinking “diet dew”, blacktop cruising, working and golfing. Playing the drums was one of the hidden talents she had, frequently using the kitchen table to practice on. She devoted much of her time and energy as a caregiver to friends and family members, including her mother, Virginia, until she passed away at age 89. She carried on the legacy of her mother’s caring, loving, kind and nurturing spirit. In the words of her favorite song, “Remember the cross high upon the steeple, one where Jesus died for all the lost people, if you can’t find home, know you’re not alone…Take me to the cross.” She lived a good life and in the end, it’s not the years in a life, it’s the life in the years. Bern, God has you in His arms, we have you in our hearts.

Bernadette Ann Scherder

January 3, 1955 - August 9, 2023