Bernadine C. Stetzel

Bernadine Corrine Stetzel, 89, of Fremont passed away on Friday, August 5, 2016 at ProMedica Memorial Hospital, Fremont. She was born on her father’s birthday, March 12, 1927 in Tiffin to Burton Henry and Clara Elizabeth (Kimmet) Puffenberger.
 
On February 5, 1949, she married Frederick Paul Stetzel at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Fremont where they were members. They were married 62 years until his death on January 9, 2012.

Bernadine was a 1946 graduate of Tiffin Calvert High School.  After graduation she and twin sister Geraldine moved to New York City where they worked for a time as fashion models.  After returning to Tiffin she met her future husband, Fred, married and moved to Fremont where she was an active community member and volunteer for many decades.  In Fremont she worked in the office of the Herbrand Company before starting a family.

At the age of twelve while attending St. Mary Catholic grade school in Tiffin, Bernadine developed a passion for art.  This passion would encompass her entire life.  She realized at an early age how much she loved oil painting and began her career painting portraits in realism.  In her 30’s she found herself intrigued by the primitive artist Grandma Moses.  Bernadine decided to try her hand at primitive painting and found the style quite liberating and creative.  This switch in painting style launched her career as a nationally recognized primitive artist.

Bernadine eventually became known at the memory artist.  This was due to the series of paintings she began creating of her beloved hometown of Tiffin, Ohio. These paintings recalled her childhood days growing up in Tiffin during the 1930’s and 40’s.

Her work was known for its pure bright vivid colors.  Her paintings represented a charm and innocence of days past.  It was often said one look at Bernadine’s work would automatically bring a smile to a person’s face.

Bernadine’s accomplishments as an artist were immense.  Her work was featured in many successful one woman shows throughout the country.  She was awarded countless awards and honors for her artwork, including a second place award for her print “JFK Ticker Tape Parade” at the Toledo Museum of Art Area Artists Exhibition.    

Bernadine was a Renaissance woman.  Her talents knew no limits.  She was an avid quilter, seamstress, cook and baker.  She crocheted and even did carpentry work.  She had a great love for history and antiques.

Fifty years ago she and her husband purchased their dream home, a large historical Victorian house in Fremont.  She worked tirelessly restoring each room herself from floor to ceiling.  Sewing draperies for the windows and reupholstering furniture. 

Over several decades Bernadine wrote and illustrated more than twenty children’s books.  At age 85 she became a first time published author and illustrator when four of her children’s books were published. 
She and her husband were very active in local and state politics and the Democratic Party.  She was awarded the Sandusky County Democrat of the year in 1986.  An honor that was presented to her by Senator John Glenn and his wife Annie.
A documentary of her life titled, Memory Painting the Art of Bernadine Stetzel was produced by Bowling Green State University and the Ohio Arts Council.  It was broadcast throughout the state of Ohio on PBS television stations.
Bernadine created a series of 71 paintings dealing with the life of President John F. Kennedy.  In 2011, she donated the entire series to the The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas.  In 2012 an exhibition featuring paintings from the series was held at the Sixth Floor Museum.  Bernadine co-authored with her daughter Elizabeth, a book titled, Remembering JFK.  The book was published in 2014 and features all 71 of the paintings from Bernadine’s JFK series.
In 2015 Bernadine was awarded the Silver Seneca Science, Art and Athletic Achievement Award and inducted into the Tiffin Calvert High School Hall of Fame.

Bernadine was a firm believer that to whom much has been given much is expected.  She followed through with this belief by donating her artwork to many charities and organizations for various fundraisers and auctions.

Her work was featured in many galleries throughout the country and is in many private collections throughout the world.  Her work is currently featured at Our Town Gallery in Grand Rapids, OH.  Bernadine would often say, “She didn’t paint to live, she lived to paint.”  She held true to those words continuing to paint up to two weeks before her passing. 

First and foremost to Bernadine was her faith and family.  She would recite the rosary daily.  Her love for the Lord knew no boundaries. She was forever grateful for the talents and gifts the Lord gave her.  Most of all she was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend.  Her unconditional love and support will live on forever in all whose lives she touched. Her love so strong that not even death can destroy it. 

Bernadine’s 89 years of life can best be described in;


I Corinthians
12:37-13:8a
 
“Love is always patient and kind, it is never jealous, love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offense, and it is not resentful.

Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end.”


Surviving are her children, Robert (Dawn) Stetzel of Norwalk, Elizabeth Stetzel of Fremont; grandchildren, Eric (Lisa) Stetzel of Troy, OH, Stephanie Mackey of Punta Gorda, FL, Theodore (Danielle) Stetzel of San Francisco, CA, and Dorothy (Michael) Montcalm of Schaumburg, IL; great-grandchildren, Jacob Mackey and Aubrey and Caleb Stetzel; and sister, Dorothy Kuhn, Tiffin.  

She is preceded in death by her husband; parents; son, Stephen; brothers, Dale and Paul Puffenberger, and twin sister, Geraldine Reif.
 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church 709 Croghan St. Fremont, Ohio with visitation an hour prior to the service in the church sanctuary beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Rev. Michael Zacharias will officiate with committal services to follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
 
Contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 709 Croghan St., Fremont, OH 43420 St Mary Catholic Church, 85 S Sandusky St, Tiffin, OH 44883 or Tiffin Calvert High School,152 Madison St, Tiffin, OH 44883