Bernice Nadine Walling
Bernice Nadine Walling
Bernice Nadine Walling
April 26, 1924 – January 29, 2022
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 97
Bernice Nadine Walling, 97, of Oskaloosa passed away on January 29, 2022, at the MHP Serenity Hospice House in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Bernice was born on April 26, 1924, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was one of nine children born to Gerritt and Carrie (VanderLinden) Vande Lune.
Bernice attended the Oskaloosa High School and graduated with the Class of 1942.
Bernice was united in marriage to Robert M. Gillespie and to this union two sons were born, Tom and Terry. Bernice and Robert divorced years later.
On February 17, 1973, Bernice was united in marriage to Charles Walling in Oskaloosa. They shared over 30 years of marriage until Charles passed away on March 5, 2009.
After graduating high school, Bernice worked for the U.S. Maritime Commission in Washington D.C. She returned to Oskaloosa and began working for the Heslinga Law Office in 1954 where she served as office manager and legal secretary until retiring in 1989.
Bernice was a member of the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa. In her younger years, she enjoyed dancing, especially square dancing. She was always present at her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events and was their biggest fan and supporter. She enjoyed working in her flower garden and had a knack for refinishing furniture. Above all else, family was everything to Bernice and she cherished spending time with them.
Bernice is survived by her children, Tom (Marti) Gillespie of Oskaloosa and Terry (Rita) Gillespie of Thornton, CO; her grandchildren: Aaron Gillespie of St. Peter’s, MO., Anne (Lloyd Johnson) Gillespie of Los Angeles, CA., and Garret Gillespie of Denver, CO; her great grandchildren, Alexander and Anna-Elaine Gillespie; her stepchildren: Dr. A. K. (Rebecca) Walling, Tom (Deborah) Walling and Anne (Dr. John) Dowdle; step grandchildren: Laura, Charley, Chris, Eleanor, Ryan and Conor; step great grandchild, Bode Fitzwater; her sister, Blanche Denburger; sisters-in-law, Peggy Vande Lune and Sandra Vande Lune. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Walling; her parents, Gerritt and Carrie Vande Lune; four brothers: Arthur Vande Lune, Tom Vande Lune, Glenn Vande Lune and Charles Vande Lune; and three sisters: Dorothy Barnhouse, Joyce Jonker and Lois Haynie.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 3, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. in the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Molly Goodrich officiating.
Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin Wednesday, February 2, 2022, after 12 noon in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel on Wednesday from 5-7 to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be made to MHP Serenity Hospice House or the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Bernice Nadine Walling please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel Sympathy Store.
