Bernice Mae VanDien, age 79, of Baldwin passed away March 10, 2025, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Bernice was born October 13, 1945, in Minneapolis, MN to Bernard and Gertrude (Holmgren) Kersten. She grew up on a farm in Roberts, WI and graduated from St. Croix Central High School in Hammond, WI. She attended Spencerian College in Milwaukee.

On February 14, 1969, Bernice was united in marriage to Gene VanDien at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Baldwin, WI. They made their home in Baldwin.

For many years, Bernice was employed by the 3M Company as an advanced executive secretary in the Printed Post-It Note Sales and Promotional Markets Division. This position was a great fit for her organizational skills and also allowed her to travel to a variety of places around the country.

Bernice was a devout Christian. She served as an Elder at the First Reformed Church in Baldwin. She was most recently a member of the First Baptist Church in Woodville.

Her hobbies included walking, needle point, word puzzles, and traveling in her retired years. She enjoyed a special trip to the Holy Land. She made delicious pies, pickles, and jam.

Bernice was preceded in death by her husband Gene, parents, brother Chuck, nephew Todd, niece Tina, brother-in-law Larry Ness, and nephew Craig.

She is survived by son Dave (Suzanne) of Hackensack, MN; daughter Deb (Larry) Morse of Mendota Heights, MN; 6 grandchildren Anna Mae, Allen, Abby, Isaac, Matthew, and Veronica; sisters Joyce (Gordon) Waller, June Ness, and Carol (Willy) Zevenbergen; and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 18, at the O’Connell Funeral Home in Baldwin, WI, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. Interment will be at the Baldwin Cemetery.

The family would like to send a special thanks to the staff at Lexington Pointe Senior Living in Eagan for their wonderful care.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials made to the First Baptist Church in Woodville, WI.