Bernice A. Haack (Sommers), age 96, of Holmen, WI., formerly of Kohler, passed away on January 4,
2024, at Creamery Creek Senior Living in Stoddard, WI.
She was born on July 3, 1927, in Kohler, a daughter to the late Arthur and Theresa (Raml) Sommers.
Bernice attended school in Kohler and graduated from Kohler High School in 1945. After working at the
Kohler Company for a year, she moved to Chicago to get the big city experience. Here is where she got
her start as a secretary.
On May 7, 1949, Bernice Sommers and Rueben Haack were united in marriage at St. John’s Catholic
Church in Kohler.
They decided to move back to Kohler to raise a family. Bernice and Rueben had six children. Bernice
started a new career at the Kohler Company after the children were all in school. She became a seminar
coordinator for the company, which allowed her to do what she did best and that is to show off her
beloved Kohler village. Bernice had plumbers and distributors from all over the country coming to the
company to learn about the product. While here they also learned about Kohler from her.
After retiring from the company, she started working as a tour guide at the Waelderhaus. She was very
proud of her position and slightly possessive of the building. It was a very special place to her.
Surviving Bernice are her six children, Tim (Elaine) Haack of Tulsa, OK; Denise (Steve) Hutek of Mt.
Holly Springs, PA; David (Evelyn) Haack of Onalaska, WI; Terry (Donna) Haack of Sparta, WI; Lisa
Patterson of Indianapolis, IN; and Allen (Karla) Haack of Whitetown, IN; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-
grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She is further survived by a sister, Marion Koehler of
Luxembourg, WI.
She was preceded in death by husband Rueben Haack; her parents, Arthur and Theresa Sommers; and her
brother Arthur Sommers.
A mass of Christian Burial for Bernice will be held on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 12:00pm at St.
John’s Catholic Church, 600 Green Tree Road in Kohler. Interment will follow at the Woodland Cemetery,
Kohler. Friends and relatives may share in visitation with the family from 10:00am until the time of the
mass at the Church on Wednesday.
In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been set up in Bernice’s name.
Please visit our website to share your stories and leave your condolences for the family at
www.ballhornchapels.com.
Comments