Teryl (Terry) Louise Bernick
Celebrating the Life of Teryl Louise Bernick Feb. 15, 1954 — Oct. 18, 2025 Teryl (Terry) Louise Bernick, 71, Spencer, passed away peacefully at her home on the farm, surrounded by her devoted family, on Oct. 18, 2025.
Terry loved life, had a heart for service, and had an unmatched work ethic that she carried into every role she played — daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, farmer, and faithful Christian.
She grew up on her family’s dairy farm near Grenola, Kan., where her passion for agriculture took root. A 1972 graduate of South Elk High School, Terry was a standout in academics and athletics — a four-year varsity basketball starter, member of the chorus, 4-H, student council, National Honor Society, and yearbook staff. She earned accolades including “Outstanding Teenager” and “State 4-H Holstein Girl,” and walked on to the Kansas State University basketball team when she was a freshman.
In 1974, Terry married the love of her life, Clayton Dean Bernick. Their partnership was defined by adventure, hard work, and deep love. From early months working cattle in Kodiak, Alaska, to time spent on dairy farms in New Zealand, they brought their experiences home and in 1977, established Bernick’s Registered Holsteins — known for its quality cattle. Terry was committed to and skilled at managing the health of baby calves and young stock for the entire 40 years they had a milking herd.
Terry and Clay nurtured three children—Shawn, Jason, and Holli — who benefited from the strength, values, and joy that Terry radiated.
For the last 19 years, Terry has been a super fan of all her grandchildren’s activities, cheering them on at basketball, volleyball, football, and baseball games; dance; 4-H competitions; and a host of other activities.
Terry served the agricultural community beyond the farm, working 22 years as executive assistant at the Wisconsin State FFA Center. She was a driving force behind the newsroom at the State FFA Convention — mentoring students and overseeing a press room with heart and professionalism. Her writing, editing, and organizational gifts left a lasting mark.
Never one to let life go uncelebrated, Terry made everything an event — be it family reunions, birthday parties, FFAAlumni basketball tournaments, or holiday gatherings. Her creativity also found its way into her side business, Terry’s Treasures, where she repurposed antique teacups into artful keepsakes. In the last year, she authored “Reflections from the Rear View Mirror,” a book about her life.
Terry’s passions were diverse and joyful. She found peace in her perennial and vegetable gardens, and joy in baking, canning, scrapbooking, and cake decorating. She had a love for dogs, a flair for thrifting, and enjoyed travel and sightseeing — from the Northeast’s fall colors to the California Redwoods, the Hot Air Balloon Festival in New Mexico, Germany, and Ireland.
She was a collector at heart — of elephants and Beanie Babies to name a few. Terry served her community faithfully — as a deacon at First Presbyterian Church in Marshfield, 4-H leader and active member of the Spencer FFAAlumni, the Holstein Association, and in earlier years, the local Homemakers Club and fifth- and sixth-grade basketball coach.
Those who will forever cherish her memory include her loving husband, Clay Bernick; her sons, Shawn (Mandy) Bernick of Prescott, and Jason (Leah) Bernick of Spencer; her daughter, Holli Bernick of Albuquerque, N.M.; her grandchildren, Teddy, Ruby, Rozzy, Ryan, Maddie, and Lucas; her sister, Audrey (Steve) Steiner of Wichita, Kan.; her brother, Bruce (Jan) Wilmeth of Whitehall; brothers-in-law, Dan (Karen) Bernick of Long Grove, Iowa, and Scott (Jeanne) Bernick of Blue Grass, Iowa; and sisters-in-law, Kris (Steve) Diehl of Redding, Calif., and Sher (John) Fulton of Atlanta, Ill.; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends, and neighbors.
Terry was preceded in death and reunited with her parents, Ray and Norma Wilmeth; parents-in-law, Eugene and Alberta Bernick; brother-in-law, Red Redford; and aunts, Ruth (Ralph) Kaufman and Kay Freeze.
A memorial celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church in Marshfield, with Rev. Anna Von Winckler officiating. Family and friends may visit from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. Honorary pallbearers will be Terry’s grandsons: Theodore Bernick, Ryan Bernick, and Lucas Bernick. Committal services will be held privately by the family at a later date.
For those unable to attend in person, a livestream of the service will be made available through the church and the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorials to be made in Terry’s honor to organizations that reflect her lifelong passions: Golden Glow 4-H Club, the National FFA Foundation, and First Presbyterian Church.
Terry lived a life of purpose, passion, and love. She inspired others to aim higher, work harder, and love deeper — and she did it all with warmth, wit, and wisdom. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched, the community she helped build, and the family she cherished above all.
Terry’s arrangements are under the compassionate care of Life Tributes Funeral Home, Spencer. Family and friends are invited to visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome. com to share memories and offer condolences to the family.
PAID OBITUARY 175625
