Mary Ellen (Heitkamp) Berning, 92, of Menominee, IL died Friday December 18, 2009 at the home of her daughter, Carol Weber, in Platteville, WI, surrounded by her loving family. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday Dec. 22, at Nativity BVM Church in Menominee. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday Dec. 21, at Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena, where the scripture wake service will be held at 3 p.m., followed by the St. Anne Society rosary. She was born on May 23, 1917 in Menominee, daughter of Joseph and Irene (Fleege) Heitkamp. She married Edward Berning on Nov. 26, 1940 in Menominee. He preceded her in death on Nov. 8, 2008. They enjoyed nearly 68 years of marriage. She attended school in Menominee and graduated from Galena High School and Bayless Business College in Dubuque. She was an active member of the Nativity BVM parish, the St. Anne Society, and the Catholic Daughters of America. She spent many volunteer hours at the Church and the school. Mom and Dad spent their life on the farm caring for their family. They were especially devoted to their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Surviving are seven children, Carol (James) Weber of Platterville, David (Marie) Berning of Freeport, Dan (Doris) Berning of Hazel Green, Charlie (Phyllis) Berning of Menominee, Joanne (Maurie) Tobin of Dubuque, Mary (Phil) Austin of Monroe, Marty (Sheri) Berning of Hazel Green, and a very special member of the family, Rev. Arun John, of Grosse Pointe, LA. Also surviving are 30 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild; 2 sisters, Germaine Robinson of Savanna, IL and Monica Houtakker of Hazel Green; 2 brothers, Robert Heitkamp of East Dubuque and James (Lavonne) Heitkamp of Menominee; and 2 sisters-in-law, Rosie Fleege and Anne Berning, both of Hazel Green. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her mother and father-in-law, Anton and Irene Berning, sisters-in law Irene and Rosalia Berning and Margaret Heitkamp, and brothers-in-law Clarence Houtakker, Hubert Robinson and Walter, Earl, and Vincent Berning. The family wishes to extend a special thank-you to Polly, her caregiver and friend. We also wish to thank Hospice of Dubuque for their love and care, especially Traci.