Obituary of Wilma Bertling-Miller

Surviving are 2 daughters: Mary Lee (Vernon) Demmer of Dubuque, IA and Carol (Richard) Ostwinkle of Farley, IA; 1 sister, Ruth Lawlor of Chicago, IL; 29 grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren, one great-great granddaughter and several step children. 2 daughters-in-law; Christina and Anita Bertling and a sister-in-law, Angela Callahan of Galena, IL. Wilma was born on February 12, 1913, daughter of Andrew and Mathilda (Ament) Hummel of Dyersville, Iowa. Wilma was baptized Philomina Barbara at St. Francis Xavier Basilica. Wilma was educated in the Xavier schools. She worked at the "shirt factory" before her marriage to Leo Bertling on January 12, 1931. Their love produced eight children, four sons and four daughters. She was a dedicated wife and mother. Leo and Wilma farmed. Over the years, farming lead them to the areas of Sandsprings, Monticello, and Anamosa. Leo and Wilma enjoyed working together, dancing and playing cards with neighbors. Wilma was a master at cooking and baking, not to mention a meticulous housekeeper. The grandchildren looked forward to her "homemade egg noodles and snow pie" at family gatherings. After Leo's sudden death on October 13, 1972, Wilma farmed alone for another year on their 170-acre farm near Anamosa. She took great pride in their prize winning Registered Holstein dairy herd they had bred and raised over the years. Wilma moved to the town of Anamosa in 1974, and worked briefly at the Langworthy locker. On October 18, 1975, Wilma married Fred Miller. Wilma and Fred loved dining out, dancing and playing cards with their friends. Results from the "Guys" against the "Girls" card games were always a HOT topic in days that followed! They traveled to the Northwestern United States and Las Vegas, Nevada. She enjoyed entertaining family and friends and playing Bingo. Sadly Fred died unexpectedly of a heart attack on August 18, 1989. Wilma lived in Anamosa until August of 1998. Over the years, Wilma has grieved the loss of 6 children: Donald, Richard, Tom and David Bertling, Joyce Ney, and Theresa Bertling in infancy; 4 siblings Edward, Andrew and Gilbert Hummel and Rosemary Beutel and 1 grandchild, Eugene Bertling