Bernice Allene Kalbas

Funeral services for Bernice Kalbas, 82 of Serbin, Texas, are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 28, 2014 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Serbin with Rev. John Schmidt officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 28, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings. The Kalbas family will be present for visitation Saturday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Bernice Allene (Brade) Kalbas was born on September 3, 1932 in Lincoln, Texas to Herman Ernst Brade and Alma Emilie (Winkler) Brade. She was baptized on September 11, 1932 at St. John Lutheran Church in Lincoln by Rev. Reinhard Osthoff and was confirmed on April 14, 1946 at St. John Lutheran Church in Lincoln by Rev. H.A. Stroebel. Her confirmation verse was Matthew 10:32, "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven". On November 11, 1951, Bernice was united in marriage to Carl August Kalbas at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fedor, Texas with Rev. Ludwig Karcher officiating. Their union as man and wife was blessed by five children, James, John, Larry, Jane and Leroy. Through their marriages, her family came to include Kathy, Lois, Judy, Sherwin and Sandra. She was a loving and devoted homemaker to her husband and children and a hard worker her entire life. After her children were older, Bernice also worked at the Sweet Shop, Invader Boat Factory, Siegmund's Bakery and Kaemark. She had been an active member at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Serbin where she assisted with distributing the audio tapes of the church services to the area nursing homes for many years. She and Carl enjoyed listening to the Blue Sunsets Band, of which their four sons were members, and dancing to the song Fraulein. Her greatest love was her family and she enjoyed being able to cook for them. She will be fondly remembered for her pickles, homemade salsa and noodles. She also enjoyed gardening, working in her yard and taking care of animals.

Bernice passed away the evening of Wednesday, December 24, 2014 at St. Mark's Medical Center in La Grange, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Alma Brade; her husband of 53 years, Carl Kalbas; her infant sister, Laverne Brade; her two brothers, Gilbert Brade & his wife, Hazel and Elwood Brade; her three sisters-in-law, Frances Brade, Elaine Brade and Joyce Brade and her nephew, Monroe Brade Jr.

Bernice is survived by her children, James & Kathy Kalbas of Serbin, John & Lois Kalbas of Paige, Larry & Judy Kalbas of Paige, Jane & Sherwin Siegmund of Serbin and Leroy & Sandra Kalbas of Northrup; twelve grandchildren, Byron Kalbas of Serbin, Natalie & Ronnie Schnell of College Station, Seth Kalbas of Paige, Rev. Aaron & Pam Kalbas of Pearland, Joseph & Kalen Kalbas of Giddings, Jordan & Lacey Kalbas of Austin, Jessica & Rick Perez of Little Elm, Stephanie & Ronald Marburger of Lincoln, Melanie & Corey Moss of Thorndale, Timothy & Kelsey Siegmund of College Station, Devon & Cynthia Kalbas of Giddings and Kendra Kalbas of Austin; twenty five great grandchildren, Elizabeth, Ethan, Elijah, Cole, Madilyn, Henry, Ruby, Gwynevere, Dusti, Dylan, Jacob, Laci, Cohen, Elizabeth, Micah, Benjamin, Emilie, August, Makalia, Cameron, Clayton, Conner, Tucker, Granger and Navee; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Gladys & Ralph Pitts of Giddings and Ernie & Rueben Melcher of Rockdale; two brothers, Monroe Brade of Fedor and Eldor Brade of Fedor as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Byron Kalbas, Seth Kalbas, Rev. Aaron Kalbas, Joseph Kalbas, Jordan Kalbas, Timothy Siegmund and Devon Kalbas. Honorary pallbearers will be Bernice's granddaughters and great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church Restoration Fund, 1572 County Road 211, Giddings, Texas 78942, Hospice Brazos Valley, 1048 North Jefferson, La Grange, Texas 78945 or to the charity of one's choice.