Bernadine “Bernie” Leiter

Bernadine “Bernie” Leiter, 92, Syracuse, died Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at The Waters of Syracuse.

Bernie entered this beautiful world on June 8, 1930, and was the daughter of William and Caroline (Berning) Bradtmueller. At age 16, she graciously left high school to aid her family. On June 12, 1948, she married Army Veteran Wayne Leiter in Fort Wayne.

Determined to complete high school, she attended night school at Warsaw Community and earned her G.E.D. in 1984. For nearly 30 years, Bernie worked as a bookkeeper for her and Wayne’s local business, Town and Country Sheet Metal and Roofing Company. Bernie and her husband were entrepreneurs who owned and operated both an antique and ceramic store in Silver Lake.

Bernie was an active member of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church. She used her God-given talents to sing in the choir, teach both Sunday and Bible School and serve in the Ladies Auxiliary Guild. She faithfully served at The Lions Club in Silver Lake. She utilized her crafting skills to crochet hats for premature babies and afghans for Veterans. Known by those around her as the “Scrubby Queen,” she handed out dish scrubbies to everyone she loved. She was involved in the development of the Hope Lutheran Church in Bonita Springs, Fla., and the Shepherd by the Lakes Church in Syracuse, which she devoutly attended.

Bernie spent her retirement years teaching ESL, singing with the Mellow Aires at nursing homes and serving as a member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. She loved playing cards with her family, watching Westerns, collecting and crafting with seashells and spending countless hours crocheting.

She was preceded in death by her parents; 12 siblings; loving husband Wayne; and infant son, Gary Lynn.

Bernie, or Grandma B, as she was affectionately called, will be deeply missed by her three sons, Mark Leiter, Syracuse, Ward (Suzanne) Leiter, Spring Hill, Fla. and George (Stacey) Leiter, Syracuse; four granddaughters; two grandsons; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at Shepherd by the Lakes, Syracuse. Pastor Jerry Winegarden will be officiating the service.

In lieu of flowers, Bernie requested memorial contributions be made in her honor to Shepherd by the Lakes of Syracuse, 7449 East CR 1000N, Syracuse, IN 46567 or K21 Health Foundation’s Cancer Support.

McHatton Sadler Funeral Chapels, Warsaw, is in charge of arrangements.