Bernice Kotacka

Bernice M. Kotacka, 92, of Bettendorf, died Thursday, December 22, 2016 at the Iowa Masonic Health Facility in Bettendorf.

Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf.  Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the services on Tuesday at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Rock Island National Cemetery next to her husband, John.  Memorials may be made to Bettendorf Presbyterian Church or to the Iowa Masonic Health Facility.

Bernice was born June 22, 1924 in Princeton, Iowa, the daughter of Roy & Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Wood.  She was united in marriage to John Kotacka on April 8, 1942 in Kahoka, Missouri.  He preceded her in death on August 26, 1986.

She was retired from J.I. Case and she had also worked with the Bettendorf Post Office as a rural mail carrier.  She was a life member of the Bettendorf American Legion Post 154 Auxiliary.

Bernice will be remembered for her love of jokes, cooking and baking, reading and spending time in her “Club” (dinner outings with friends.)  She especially enjoyed the time spent with her family and the dinners and picnics they attended together.

Those left to honor her memory include her daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon & Bill Morrissey and Lynn & Richard Stotlar of Bettendorf; her son and daughter-in-law, Jerry & Sandy Kotacka of Waycross, Georgia; her grandchildren, Susan (Ed) Merschman, Bill (Lourie) Morrissey, Tammy (Ajay) Singh, Chrissy (Ken) Hideman, Michael Kotacka and Melissa Kotacka; her great-grandchildren, Teddy (Grace) Merschman, Nick Merschman, Mary Merschman, Ryan Morrissey, Katie Morrissey, Sydney Singh, Aidan Singh, Cameron Hideman, Karlee Hideman, Kylar Hideman, Colton Hideman, Jacob Kotacka, Miriam Kotacka, Jason Kotacka and Emma Kotacka; her great-great grandson, Joey Merschman; a nephew, Bob Maher of Princeton; a granddaughter-in-law, Laura Kotacka; and her step-great-grandchildren, Richie and Annie Stotlar.

In addition to her husband, John, Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; a grandson, Christopher Lee Kotacka; a niece, Sherri Darrell; and her sister, Donna Maher.

Bernice’s family would like to express special thanks to the nurses and staff of the Iowa Masonic Health Facility for all of their care and comfort that they provided for Bernice.