Bernadette (Bernie) was born on May 26, 1938 to the late Bernard and Jeanette (Poirier) Strobach in Rib Lake. She was a graduate of Rib Lake High School. She married the love of her life Robert Sunderlin on Oct. 5, 1957 in Rib Lake who preceded her in death in May 1958. She married William Kane on May 21, 1960 and they later divorced. She married William “Bill” Marschke on Feb. 22, 1970 and he preceded her in death on Oct. 20, 2014.
Bernie worked most of her life as a mother and homemaker. As an Air Force wife she traveled to England, Germany, and the U.P. of Michigan. After Bill’s Air Force retirement in 1978 they returned to Rib Lake where they owned and operated The Village Wash Laundromat for many years. She is a past member of the Spirit Lakes Improvement Association and was also a Hospice volunteer. She loved her children and grandchildren dearly and enjoyed making applesauce and strawberry jelly for them. Bernie read her Bible daily with her morning coffee, enjoyed occasional trips to the casino, loved to vegetable and flower garden, and was also an amazing accordion player. Crocheting kept her fingers nimble and many people are enjoying all the afghans she has donated and given away.
Bernie is survived by her children: William (Edie) Sunderlin of North Fond du Lac, Candy (Mark) Rinehart of Medford and Karen (Fritz) Balz of Athens; step-children: Robert and Sean Marschke of South Dakota and Penny (Mike) Oswood of California; grandchildren: Heather Norton, Dustin, Daniel (Alexa), Matthew, Ariel and Nathaniel Rinehart, Gracie Balz, Jeremy and Jordan Marschke, Carl and Christopher Oswood and four great grandchildren; brothers: Lee Strobach of Ogema, Dale (Bernadette) Strobach of Clear Lake, Ray Strobach of Rib Lake, Dean (Gayle) Strobach of Ogema; sister Judy (Bill) Gelhaus of Arizona and sister-in-law Sandy Strobach of Illinois.
In addition to her parents and late husbands Bernie was preceded in death by her brother Theodore “Ted” Strobach.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12 at Hemer Funeral Home in Medford with Pastor David Clements officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of service that same day. Interment of her cremated remains will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in Rib Lake after a luncheon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be given to Hope Hospice of Medford. For online condolences, please visit hemerfuneralservice.com.
