Bernice Oelke

Bernice K. (Be) Oelke, age 90, of Athens, Georgia passed away in Athens on June 14, 2011. She was born on April 9, 1921 in Chappell Hill, Texas, the daughter of Edwin and Nannie Knoche and she grew up in Houston, Texas.
She met her husband, Merritt, while he was stationed in Houston during World War II and they married on April 25, 1946 after the conclusion of the war. After their marriage, they lived in Houston, Texas, Champaign, Illinois, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and Tallahassee, Florida before moving to Athens, Georgia in 1961.
While in Athens, she worked for the University of Georgia, the First Presbyterian Church and the Georgia Retired Teachers Association. She was active in the Green Acres Garden Club and volunteered for the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Her hobbies and interests included bridge, flowers, gardening, volunteering and being a grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Merritt and her brother John Knoche, and is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Lisa Oelke her beloved granddaughters Sara and Paige Oelke all of Athens, Georgia, her sister, Dorothy Lenzen of Houston, Texas and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Lanier Gardens on 801 Riverhill Dr, Athens as well as later in Houston, Texas.
Her family will receive guests at Lanier Gardens after the service.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to the caregivers of United Hospice of Athens and the staffs of Talmadge Terrace and UniHealth Post-Acute Care - Athens Heritage.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a memorial gift to a charity of your choice or to:
The University of Georgia Foundation
for the State Botanical Garden of Georgia
394 S. Milledge Ave
Athens, GA 30602
or
Foundation of Wesley Woods, Inc.
1817 Clifton Road, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30329