Berniece Agneta Sponder (Petronis)

Sioux City - Berniece A. Sponder, 89, of Sioux City passed away Feb. 6, 2013, at her daughter’s residence.
The family will be having a private service. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Morningside Chapel Christy–Smith Funeral Home.
Berneice was born on Jan. 2, 1924, in Sioux City, to Lodis and Selemona (Meckenis) Petronis. She grew up in Sioux City and attended Sioux City schools. She had been a lifelong resident of Sioux City.
She married John M. Sponder on Sept. 2, 1948, in Sioux City. She was employed with various packing plants in Sioux City. She was also a union steward for the AFL-CIO.
Berniece was of the Catholic faith and former member of St. Francis and St. Casimir Catholic Churches, both in Sioux City. She loved playing poker and was an avid card player. She also loved sports and was a huge Notre Dame fan.
Survivors include her children, Joe and Carol Sponder of Sioux City, Julie and Ron Karrer of Lawton, Iowa, and John and Connie Sponder of Sioux City; grandchildren, Lori, Angie, Andrea, T.J., John and Jeff; four great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Mary Jo Petronis of Sioux City; brothers-in-law, Leo and Helen Sponder of Sioux City, and Stan Sponder of Council Bluffs, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Josie Prather of Sioux City, and Poodie Sponder of Sioux City; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John; parents; sisters, Stella, Leona, and Josephine; and brothers, Carl and Paul.
The family requests memorials be directed to Siouxland Aging Services for Meals on Wheels, or the Carmelites Monastery.