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Date of Death: October 18, 2004 Bernadine Arlyss O’Lena was born in Redfield, Iowa on April 27, 1918. She was the daughter of Ward Murphy and Fern Myers Murphy. As a youngster, Bernadine moved with her family to a farm near Cooper. She began her schooling at Cooper, then graduated from Jamaica High School. Bernadine married Jim O’Lena on July 20, 1937 at Crown Point, Indiana. They became the parents of two children. The family lived in Blue Island, Illinois for a couple of years, then lived in Jefferson and Bagley over the next several years. Jim and Bernadine traveled across the United States where he painted on Army bases and she worked as a nurse’s aid. Bernadine loved music. She played the organ in many churches for over 60 years. Bernadine was instrumental in starting a lunch program for teachers in her home. She started the hot lunch program at the Bagley school, which she did for 12 years. When she lived in Jefferson, she worked as a nurse’s aid at the Greene County Medical Center. And later, she worked as a nurse’s aid at the Dallas County Hospital in Perry. Bernadine was an active member of the Bagley Church of Christ, past member of Eastern Star, and an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan. Bernadine O’Lena died October 18, 2004 at the Greene County Medical Center. She was 86 years of age. Preceding her in death where her parents; her husband Jim in 1986, and a grandson Travis Wager. Survivors include one daughter Judy Welford of Jamaica, Iowa
and her companion Gary Morris; one son, Ron O’Lena and his
wife, Colleen, of Overgaard, AZ; 8 grandchildren: Bill Winnett,
Becky Boos, Gary Winnett, Brad Wager, Trevor Wager, Daniel O’Lena,
Dorothy Petersen, and Debbie Fecho; 9 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren,
cousins, nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. |
