Bernadeen "Bernie" A. McWilliams

Bernadeen “Bernie” A. McWilliams, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend passed away on November 7th, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. She was 89.

Bernie was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on July 8th, 1936, to Laverne & Agnes (Barta) Quick. At the age of 3, when her mother traveled to California to help in the war effort, Bernie went to live with her grandmother and uncle, Agnes and Floyd Barta, on a farm outside of Fort Dodge.

A lifelong lover of music, during her teen years, she loved to sing and go to dances at the Bohemian Hall. She graduated from Callendar High School in 1954 and enrolled in secretarial school to learn bookkeeping. During this time, she met Charles “Chuck” McWilliams and the two were married on August 30th, 1955. The couple was blessed with three children, Diane, David and Doreen. In 1961, the family moved to Huntington Beach, CA for Chuck’s job. In 1966, the family moved to Le Mars, IA where they created many treasured memories.

Not only was Bernie busy raising three children, but she also helped support her family over the years by working at REC, the Le Mars Hatchery and Farm Bureau Insurance. Bernie’s youngest granddaughter, Maggie, would visit her grandmother at Farm Bureau and remembers how well-liked and respected Bernie was by everyone she worked with.

Bernie and Chuck were married for 45 years until his death in 2000. She embraced widowhood by bringing cats into the home (something Chuck had frowned upon while he was alive), spending time with her friends and family, and traveling.

Bernie had a passion for travel – whether going on train and bus trips with her best friends, taking a yearly trip to Valentine, NE with her daughters, spending the Christmas/winter months in Arizona with her son, or going on a road trip down to Ft. Myers, FL in a very small RV and six family members, she embraced every adventure. Magnets were her preferred souvenirs, and her refrigerator was covered with magnets from her and loved ones’ travels.

Throughout her life, Bernie cultivated a variety of interests. She loved cross stitching and completed elaborate and beautiful pieces she would then turn into quilts for her loved ones. She made quilts for all six of her grandchildren and all ten of her great grandchildren. She was an avid reader and helped instill a love of books and reading in her grandchildren. Her grandchildren recall her reading to them for hours. Later in life, you would find her coloring on her Kindle with her tv perpetually tuned to the Easy Listening music channel. She was known for her appreciation of cardinals and believed they were messengers from deceased loved ones, a sign that the person was still nearby in spirit. Eddie, her great grandson, entertained himself for hours counting her cardinals. After having to start over multiple times, he discovered Bernie had an impressive collection of 187 cardinals.

Most of all, she adored her family with every fiber of her being and did her best to stay up to date with how everyone was doing and what was new in their lives. Family members appreciated her “gab sessions” and long phone conversations. She always made herself available to her loved ones, no matter what the topic of conversation.

Bernie is survived by her three children, Diane Hay (Ken) of Sioux City, IA; David McWilliams (Marrae) of Tucson, AZ; Doreen Hill (Don) of Topock, AZ; six grandchildren Danielle (Kyle Miller), Nic (Cate St.Clair) and Maggie Hay as well as Tyler (Kelli), Brandy and Drew (Carina) McWilliams; and 10 great grandchildren and her cat, Molly.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Chuck, her parents, her daughter-in-law Deb McWilliams, her dearest friends Bonnie and Lynn, and her many cherished kitties.

Per her wishes, she will be interred with her husband and no memorial service is scheduled at this time.