Bernice Betty (Hudson) Schaaf

Bernice B. Schaaf, age 100, of Hayward, WI passed away on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at Maple Ridge Care Center in Spooner, WI.

Bernice Betty Hudson was born August 30, 1922, the daughter of Frank Lester and Albertha (Verhey) Hudson. She was united in marriage to Pershing Schaaf on December 23, 1944. At that time Pershing was an Aviation Machinist Mate in the Navy stationed in Norman, OK where he was an instructor on Navy aircraft. After being in the service, they lived in Minneapolis, MN a few years and then moved to the Seeley, WI area when their son Lester was five years old. In addition to raising her family of three children, she had been a mechanic at Northwest Airlines in St. Paul, MN working on B-24’s and B-25’s during World War II.  (She was a Rosie!) She met Pershing who was a crew chief while working there. Their home in Seeley Wisconsin was on the Namekagon River before it became a Wild River. They both enjoyed the beautiful river and the fishing and hunting. For years they raised horses. Bernice worked at Beehive Botanicals for thirteen years and retired at 88. She enjoyed her outside work, especially cutting grass with her big lawn tractor. She loved to travel and was fortunate to see Hawaii, Ireland, and Mexico. Bernice and Pershing spent six winters in Brownsville and Corpus Christi, TX.

Bernice is survived by her three children, Lester (Donna) Schaaf of Billings, MT, Rae Jean (Royal) Elliott of Cascade, MT, Norman (Anne) Schaaf of Wirtz, Virginia, Kathy Schaaf of Spring Brook, WI; nine grandchildren, Michael (Lisa) Schaaf, Melissa (Mark) Twaddle, David (Nena) Johnston, Becky Cook, Josh Schaaf, Scott Streitz, Sunnie (Jake) Bisonette and Matthew Schaaf; 17 great grandchildren; and 15 great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Pershing; grandson, Brian Johnston; two greatgrandchildren, Russell and Reid Johnston.

A funeral service celebrating Bernice’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 30, 2022, at the Hayward Funeral Home with Pastor Julie Burmeister officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home. 9:00 a.m to 10:00a.m. for family. Interment will be in the Spooner Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery. On 7309 W. Maple Street (west highway 70).

Casket bearers will be Oliver Hanson, David Johnston Jr., John Johnston, Tom Moss, Michael Schaaf and Niklas Schaaf.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Northwoods Humane Society, PO Box 391, Hayward, WI 54843.

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