Bernadette I. Wedig Wiegel, age 88 of Gratiot, Wisconsin, passed away on Sunday, January 19, 2025, surrounded by her family. She was born on May 29, 1936, in Guttenburg, Iowa, the daughter of Arnold and Hattie (Miller) Hess. She graduated from New Vienna, Iowa. On September 29, 1956, she was united in marriage to Leo L. Wedig at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Luxemburg, Iowa. During their marriage they were blessed with 7 children.
Bernadette grew up in Luxemburg and Guttenburg, Iowa. Upon high school graduation she worked as a telephone operator in Dubuque, Iowa. While working in Dubuque, she met the love of her life at Melody Mill dance hall. Leo and Bernadette married later in September 1956. She and Leo first farmed in Elk Grove Township, later moving to the farm in Gratiot. She enjoyed bowling, selling Avon, homemakers club, fishing, gardening, and her flowers. She helped as a 4-H leader involved with the Ice Cream Social and Music, as well as a religion teacher at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church for many years. She loved an outing to the casino, as well as their card clubs. Bernadette was an excellent baker, especially spoiling her sons and son-in-laws with her homemade bread!
Bernadette is survived by her daughters: Judy (Mike) Berget and Linda (John) Scott and her sons: Joe (Kim), Ed (Kelli), Mike (Joni), Roger (Brian Henderson), and Kurt (Tammy) Wedig. Her grandchildren: Christina (Bart), Matt (Stacie), Meghan (Jeremy), Claire (Paul), Justin (Jenna), Mykel (Brandon), Mitchell (Anna), Levi (Emma), Abby (Jeff), Olivia (Aaron), Alison (Royce), Isabel, McKayla (Hunter), Sawyer (Nyah), and Alexa (Ryan). Step-grandchildren: Gina (Brian Alt), Brad, Jason, Mark, Ariel (Craig), Alyssa (Devin), and Coltin. Great grandchildren: Victorria, Ike, Lizzie, Mollianna, Bryce, Kylie, Easton, Tinley, Jett, Elizabeth, David, Blayne, Ruby, Jayse, Thomas, George, Harlow, Stella, Harper, Isaiah, and Lucy (with two more on the way)! Step-great grandchildren: Lydia (Dustin), Lane, Landon, Madalyn, Reid, Bryce, Riley, Kaile, Cora, Mya, Maddox, Bentley, and Decker. Her sisters: Correne (Clete) Hellmann, Janice Roling, and Leola (Thomas) Sperfslage. Her sisters-in-law: Barbara Hess and Sara Klein, Brother-in-laws: Gary Lovell and Thomas (Rita) Wedig.
Several years after Leo’s death in 1993, Bernadette married Louis Wiegel in 1998 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gratiot. Bernadette added 9 stepchildren: Sandra NeCollins, Debra Lethlean, Donna Rogers, Peggy Diedrich, Steve, Ron, Mark, Terry Wiegel, and York Cherrey, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold and Hattie Hess, her husbands, Leo L. Wedig and Louis Wiegel, and grandson Scott M. Berget. Brothers: Carl, Dennis, and Donnie Hess. Sisters: Helene (Ralph) Oberbroeckling, Grace Roling; brothers-in-law: Daniel and Richard Roling, and Godson Randy Hess. In-laws: Wallace and Sue Wedig, Joan Lovell, Sister Mary Sharon Wedig, and Richard Klein.
Bernadette was a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gratiot and the Council of Catholic Women.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, January 24 at 11:00 AM, at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gratiot with Rev. Tom Kelley and Msgr. Daniel Ganshert officiating. Burial will be in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Gratiot, WI. A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 23 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 2:30 P.M. at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gratiot, Wisconsin and on Friday from 9:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.
