Celebrating a Long Life, Well-Lived: Bernice Czarnezki Passes Away at 98

South Milwaukee lost a dedicated community servant — and great woman — recently.

Rest in peace, Bernice Czarnezki. From her obituary …

A lifelong advocate for service, Bernice volunteered tirelessly for numerous organizations. She served as an alderperson and poll worker, assisted with South Milwaukee flu clinics, and organized the Tuesday dance for seniors for 25 years. At the Milwaukee Airport, she welcomed travelers as a greeter at the Travelers Aid station. Her commitment to her community extended to South Milwaukee High School, the Performing Arts Center, and the Trinity Memorial Hospital Advisory Board, among others.

In 2018, Bernice was honored by the Mayor of South Milwaukee for over 40 years of distinguished service. A dedicated member of the South Shore Lions Club, she served as treasurer and received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for her humanitarian efforts. She was also recognized as Citizen of the Year by the 128th Air Refueling Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard and acknowledged by the SE Suburban Unit of the Wisconsin Democratic Party for her unwavering commitment.

From that proclamation in 2018, when I was proud, as mayor, to recognize Bernice for her 46 years of service to the City of South Milwaukee:

WHEREAS, the City of South Milwaukee relies on the participation of its citizens in the many and varied volunteer opportunities in our community, and is proud to celebrate our board and commission members and others who give of their time and talents every day to make our city a better place; and

WHEREAS, Bernice Czarnezki is worthy of special acclaim due to her longstanding and distinguished service to the city; and

WHEREAS, Bernice has volunteered her service to South Milwaukee in a number of ways for more than four decades. She has served as a member of the Board of Appeals since 1973, was a Second District Alderperson from February 1992 to April 1993, and was a pollworker for many years, to name a few; and

WHEREAS, such devoted service to the community should be acknowledged and praised.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Mayor Erik Brooks and the Common Council of the City of South Milwaukee, extend our sincere and heartfelt thanks to Bernice Czarnezki for her 46 years of service to the City of South Milwaukee, and thank her for all of her contributions to our community both past, present, and into the future.