Bernice Jurgenson

Bernice Martha (VanBelle) Jurgenson 90 years, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2021, at the Kingston Residence of Sylvania.  Bernice was born on April 25, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan to Germain and Helena (Doom) VanBelle and was a lifelong resident of Temperance, Michigan. 

She attended Bedford Schools, where as a young girl, met her future husband, Roland Robert Jurgenson, during a Spelling Bee.

She graduated from Bedford High School in 1949 and continued to attend the 49ers reunions for many years. 

 Bernice married Roland in 1956 and spent 55 years together until his death in 2012.

 Her smile was contagious and she continued to make others laugh with her witty sense of humor.

 She enjoyed spending her later years traveling with her husband every fall to see the “colors” and to almost all 50 states.  Growing and maintaining her beautiful gardens was her hobby as she tended to them every spring and summer, until she was no longer able.               

 Bernice enjoyed every type of dance and would never turn down an opportunity to “cut a rug” with anyone who could keep up.  The success of her children was of utmost importance and her spirituality was the framework of her life. Bernice was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Temperance and rarely missed a Sunday mass.

 She is survived by her four children, Mike (Brenda) Jurgenson, Kathy Jurgenson, Brenda (Jim) Duggan, Ron (Andrea) Jurgenson; grandchildren, Kyle (Julie) Jurgenson, Alex (Kelsey Hogrefe) Jurgenson, Callie (Tony) Lopez, Mitchell (Jenna Whitsitt) Duggan, Drew (Allison Gulbronson) Jurgenson, Neal Duggan, Julia Jurgenson, Kenleigh Duggan, Kaylin Jurgenson, Matt Hunter and Christopher Hunter; 7 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  She is also survived by her youngest sister, Irene (John) Cousino, who will hold a special place in our hearts for her tireless compassion, faith and love she shared at Bernice’s bedside.  We are also eternally grateful for the kindness and close special friendship shared with Bernice by “Uncle” Jim Wilkie. Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, Germain and Helena VanBelle, her husband, Roland Jurgenson and sister, Elsie (Garold) Langenderfer. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 15, 2021 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the Urbanski’s Bedford Funeral Chapel 8300 Lewis Ave. Temperance, MI 48182 where the Prayer Service will be held at 630 p.m.

Donations may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Toledo Humane Society or Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Temperance, Michigan.  Online condolences are welcomed at www.bedfordfuneralchapel.com