Bernardine M. Mignon

Bernardine “Bernie” Mignon, age 88, of Kimberly passed away peacefully on Monday, April 5^th 2021 after a brief illness at St Paul Home with her daughters by her side. Bernie was born January 28^th, 1933 in Appleton to the late Anton and Johanna (De Wildt) Vander Wielen.  She grew up in Kimberly and graduated from Kimberly High School. She married Gerald Mignon on April 18^th, 1953 and they enjoyed 64 years together in Kimberly. Bernie stayed home to raise her family before starting work as a Purchasing Agent for Kimberly Clark where she worked for the rest of her career.

Bernie is remembered for her great love for her children, grandchildren and newest great-granddaughter.  She loved cooking everyone’s favorite “silver dollar” pancakes, lake perch, potato salad, and her Christmas Grasshopper drinks and punch.

She and her grandchildren enjoyed playing dice games, Yahtzee, Cribbage, making air popcorn, s’mores, and cooking over campfires while at the lake. Many memories were made resting in the hammock by the water, floating on air mattresses, tossing the Frisbee, making giant soap bubbles, playing lawn darts, and lighting fireworks on the 4^th of July.

In addition to cooking Bernie enjoyed sewing, knitting, fishing, and relaxing at the lake cottage. She sewed most of her daughters’ clothing and knit many pairs of mittens as well as clothes for their dolls. She enjoyed the Olympic Games and especially loved the Beijing opening ceremony. Her favorite movie was “The Sound of Music”. She also enjoyed monthly lunches with lifelong girlfriends.

She is survived by her daughters Karen (fiancé Lins) Siebers and Gail (Greg) Johnson. Grandma will be missed by her grandchildren: Kelly (Josh) Jansen, stepson Will, Andy (Alisha) Siebers, Robert (Grace Wilkinson) Johnson, Meg (Courtis) Merry, Alec (Ann-Marie Schmidt) Johnson and great granddaughter Tarryn. She is survived by her brother Tom (LouAnn) Vander Wielen, sisters Aggie Vanden Oever, Ceil Sweere and Pat Gavaert, sister-in-law Jan Mignon, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bernie was preceded in death by her daughter Ellen, husband Jerry, her parents Anton and Johanna Vander Wielen, siblings Charlie (Gert) and Bert (Art), as well as brothers and sisters-in-law Joe, Jim, Margaret, Gordy (Rosie), June (Merrill), Helen (Vernon), Don (Alice), Raymond “Hap” (Elaine “Sweets”) and Jack.

A Funeral Liturgy for Bernie will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 12, at Holy Spirit Church in Kimberly with visitation beginning at 9:00 AM.

The family would like to thank all of the staff at Frontida Assisted Living, the doctors and staff at St. Elizabeth Hospital and the staff at St. Paul Elder Services for their beautiful and compassionate care. Memorials can be made to St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation or St. Paul Elder Services.

We love you and will miss you Mom.