Bernice (Mescher) Worrell, age 80, of Miami, Florida and formerly of Halbur, Iowa, died Wednesday, September 4, 2024 in Miami with her husband Tom by her side.
A livestream of Bernie’s funeral mass can be found at this Link provided by St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Miami. https://www.youtube.com/@sjn-miami
Local Services: Rite of Committal will be held at 11a.m. Saturday, September 21, 2024 at St. Augustine Cemetery in Halbur. A reception will follow the committal.
A visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10th at Stanfill Funeral Home, 10545 S. Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL 33156.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 (EDT) a.m. (10a.m. CDT) Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 12125 SW 107th Ave, Miami, FL 33176. A reception will follow at Stanfill Funeral Home.
Local funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Bernie’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
I was so privileged that God found me worthy to share my life and watch over one of his precious angels. I had a game I used to play with Bernie – when I called her, many times on the way home from work, and I heard her pick up – I would say a variation of: Is this that beautiful world champion bone player,
savior of kitties, champion horsewoman, mighty prayer partner, fabulous friend, the one who can do anything and is always loyal? Is that who this is? She would often say – “If you say so”.
When Bernie decided to do something – it would get done. Bernie grew up on the family farm in Halbur, Iowa. She loved her family and her home, but she said very early on that she was going to see the world! When she was six (maybe younger) she decided to climb up on Bill, one of the work horses her father was still using to farm the fields. Picture the task of that little girl figuring out by herself how she would climb up on the gigantic work horse. Before long Bernie was riding the work horses around the farm – I’m sure those hard working animals enjoyed Bernie every bit as much as she loved and enjoyed them.
I love one of the stories I heard about Bernie and the Shetland ponies she was given a chance to take care of. Lady – the mom who would raise her babies with Bernie’s help, wasn’t sure about one of the adventures Bernie decided they would share. She decided to hitch the small Shetland pony to one of the
wagons (probably one the gigantic work horses pulled). I don’t know all of the details but Lady ended up turning around in the harness and looking at the wagon. I’m completely sure; I can see Benie driving Lady and the wagon around the farm – when Bernie embarked on a mission – trust me – it was a
done deal!
Her neighbor, Les Heinen, who ran the bank, had a foal that he gave to Bernie. She named him Misty of Chincoteague after a book she loved. Bernie learned how to train Misty from a book she had – and boy did she train him. Her cousin Tom Mesher just told me he remembers watching her flying through the
pasture with her father Albert yelling that Misty was going to step in a gopher hole and that would be that. Needless to say, Bernie and Misty survived to have many adventures together. After we were married, I visited the farm and she wanted me to take a picture with my new camera. She told me to be sure Misty’s ears were forward when she had him rear in the air (you should note that she was riding him bareback). If you look near Misty’s hind feet you will see even the dog was amazed! I have no idea how I got that picture – but that’s what Bernie envisioned.
In Des Moines, Bernie made friends with some Hawaiians that were there to study computers. Bernie ended up moving to Hawaii and fulfilling her dream of seeing the world. She applied with Northwest airlines to become a flight attendant. I was amazed how savvy she was when she told me she got a book
about interviews and how to handle psychological tests. After she was hired, the interviewer told her that her score on there testing was amazing (that’s Bernie).
From warm Hawaii to freezing Minnesota in January of 1967 – Bernie began her career with Northwest. She shared an apartment with Donna Tecker (we always just called her Tecker) who she met during training. On their first flight, she also met Linda Zuelsdorf, and although there was a break when Linda
changed bases and went to Chicago, they flew together until Linda retired. Linda has remained a close friend.
After I graduated from Purdue in 1968, I went to work for Control Data and was sent to Minneapolis for training. One Friday evening I was enjoying an Irish pub called Du��s. They had a dance floor and I saw this amazing, beautiful girl dancing. Unfortunately, she was dancing with this old guy (he could have been
as old as 30)! Much to my surprise and delight – they didn’t hug or even shake hands – they both turned in opposite directions – and I chose Bernie’s direction. I asked her to dance and was thoroughly hooked. I was invited to a party while we were talking and tried to convince Bernie to go with me – Bernie was loyal to her friends (and very savvy) and she said no, but she did give me her number.
In a very short time I knew Bernie was the one – but Bernie was not subject to BS – when I first told her I loved her (very quickly after we started dating) she told me babble, babble, babble – talk your trash. But she moved to Maryland when Control Data sent me there. Bernie became a commuter – flying from
what was then National to Minneapolis to catch her flights. When I got my draft notice in early 1969 I managed to get a spot in OTS, but found out I would have to go to basic training because my slot in OTS was too far out. Our relationship was so together, I just said: we know I have to leave in July – when
should we get married.
Bernie didn’t like it a bit when a priest in Minneapolis told her she couldn’t marry a Protestant– it wouldn’t work out. We found a wonderful priest in the local parish in Gaithersburg, Md who knew better – and we made it o��icial – June 28, 1969. 55 years later I found out that as strong as my love was when I first told Bernie – it was nothing compared to the love that sustained us through every challenge.
There are so many stories I would love to share, but I now see why Joe Friday said: “nothing but the facts”. Bernie was always there for me – she believed in me in a way that I couldn’t believe in myself. I leaned on that rock and found that with her at my back, I could overcome any challenge. When Bernie started losing her memory, at every stage I kept saying Lord – we can deal with this – just please let her stay at this stage. Instead, he assigned me my wings and said follow me and care of my angel. What a privilege to be trusted by God with such a special assignment.
Whenever I came to her bedside, Bernie would say: I’m so glad you came – I love you with all my heart. What a wonderful gift she was.
OK, Joe Friday, here are some of the facts. Bernie was born in Halbur, IA. Her parents were Albert and Anne Schenkelberg Mescher. Bernie had a sister Darlene and two brothers Jerry and Paul (all deceased). She went to Catholic grade school in Halbur and Templeton. She graduated from Kuemper Catholic
High School in Carroll, IA. Bernie went to work for Northwest Airlines in January of 1967 and retired from Delta Airline (Delta bought NWA) in March of 2018 (51 years).
Paul and Ruth Mescher had 9 kids and Darlene had 3. Bernie is survived by many, many wonderful nieces and nephews – their spouses and fantastic great (and even great great) nephews and nieces.
I have left out so many important facts – like all of our wonderful friends, playing the bones with Jerry and later his wife Sharon, the Rhythm Bones Society, annual Old Time Country Music festivals – her work in keeping Horse Country the special place that it is, riding, praying and evangelizing with our friend Pat Tierney, showing horses, riding in the Sierra Nevada mountains – all of the masses at St Peter’s in Rome – riding along the beach in Scotland – bringing other flight attendants to mass in Hawaii – evangelizing everywhere and every when, visiting castles along the Rhine with her flight crew – celebrating Linda’s birthday in December at the Christmas mart in Mainz Germany – preparing and proclaiming God’s word as a lector – standing by me and all of our friends – fiercely loyal and faithful.
I could only wish you could have a wonderful partner like mine.
