Merle Leann Bernasek

Merle Leann Bernasek, 93, of Axtell, KS, died August 11, 2021, at the Nemaha Valley Hospital in Seneca, KS. Visitation is Sunday, August 15, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Axtell-Landreth Funeral Home in Axtell. A rosary service will be held at 7 p.m., Sunday, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Axtell. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 16 at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Father Jim Shaughnessy will officiate. Musicians are Kathy Buessing and Nick Buessing. Hymns are "How Great Thou Art," "Only a Shadow," "On Eagles Wings," "Hail Mary, Full of Grace" and "The Old Rugged Cross." Pallbearers are Caleb Henry, Matthew Holthaus, Allen Henry, Merle Duryea, Richard Holthaus, Caleb Heiman and Mitchell Kuckelman. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Merle Leann was born June 8, 1928 in Sabetha to Ernest H. and Anna M. (Huls) Lackey. She attended West Point Country Grade School and Axtell High School, graduating in 1946. In school she loved playing basketball. On June 1, 1946, she married Donald E. Bernasek, her high school sweetheart, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Axtell. They were blessed with six children, George, Leann, Rose Mary, Marvin, Carol and Arlene. Merle Leann worked alongside her husband on the dairy farm. For fifteen years, Merle Leann ran a daycare in her home, was a CNA at a Marshall County Nursing home and worked at the Beattie Locker. She donated blood for many years and would work the blood drives. She donated homemade cookies to the drive and was also known for her homemade rolls. Her love for sewing carried on to quilting and making many items for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a member of St. Michael’s Guild, St. Michael’s Catholic Church and West Point Club. Playing Bunco with friends in her later years, was always something she enjoyed. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Donald; daughter-in-law, Grace Bernasek, sister, Norma Jean Bernasek; and two grandsons, Jeremy Bernasek and Jeff Brooks. Survivors include children, George (Susan) Bernasek, Axtell, Leann DeKoning, Beatrice, NE, Rose Mary (Merle) Duryea, Seneca, Marvin (Rose) Bernasek, Beattie, Carol (Richard) Holthaus, Axtell and Arlene (Allen) Henry, Seneca; brothers, John Lackey, Beloit and Gary Lackey, Axtell; twenty-one grandchildren and twenty-nine great grandchildren. A memorial fund has been established and will be designated later. Contributions may be sent in care of the Axtell-Landreth Funeral Home. Funeral for Merle Leann Bernasek To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Merle Leann Bernasek, please visit our flower store.