Bernice (McPeak) Blackman

Bernice (McPeak) Blackman, 96, of Clarion passed away Sunday, September 17, 2017 at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion.

Funeral services for Bernice Blackman will be held at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, with Mr. Stan Watne officiating.  Burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Wednesday.

Bernice Velva, daughter of Verni and Dessie (Palmer) McPeak, was born on December 19, 1920 on the family farm near Renwick. Bernice grew up in the Renwick area and graduated from Renwick High School. After graduation, she moved to Colorado and worked there. During World War II, she worked at an ammunition plant in Washington state.

Bernice met Gerald Blackman in Eagle Grove after Gerald came back from the service. Bernice and Gerald were united in marriage on February 22, 1947 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. The couple was blessed with five children: Harvey, Lyle, Shirley, Jerry, and Bonnalee. They raised their family on a farm ten miles south of Clarion. The boys helped farm and the girls helped with the garden. After the children were grown, Gerald and Bernice traveled across the country, to Italy, and took two cruises to the South Pacific.

In addition to her love of travel, Bernice enjoyed embroidering, gardening, and most of all, spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Bernice is survived by her children Harvey Blackman of Polk City, Lyle (Shirley) Blackman of Windsor Heights, Shirley Vanni of Granger, Jerry (Jan) Blackman of Clarion, and Bonnalee (Bill) Hocraffer of Bonner Springs, Kansas; grandchildren Bryant (Amanda) Blackman, Andrea Blackman, Conrad Sandahl, Stescey (Ron) Blum, Jesse (Natchaya) Blackman, Karl Blackman, Kelly Blackman, Ryan (Penni) Blackman, Rodney Blackman, Troy Vanni, Tyler Vanni, Brian Vanni, Travis (Christine) Hocraffer, Tricia (Kurtis) Goone; great-grandchildren Evan, Bryn, and Rowan Blackman, Gabriella and Gillian Gaffney, Brice Sandahl, Jayce and Nevaeh Halfpop, Charlye James, Chaiya, Kiana, and Arianna Blackman, Stella and Nolan Blackman, Caitlyn and Tristin Hocraffer, Anabelle and Karson Goone, and Arianna Blackman; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband Gerald, her parents, and two sisters Ruby Tate and Velma Huntley.