Bernice (Buckingham) Zieg

Bernice (Buckingham) Zieg

September 29, 1923 – February 10, 2022

Bernice is survived by her daughters, Kathy Carter (David) and Nancy Steier (Rich); grandchildren: Mandi Russell, Kristen Johnson (Aaron), Richie Steier (Kelsey), David Carter (Melanie), and Michelle LaBorde (Brad); stepdaughters, Patricia Zieg (Tim Higgins) and Barbara Zieg (Mick Knudsen); step grandchildren: Jessica Higgins (Mikey Young), Christine Higgins, Curt Knudsen (KayAnn), and Beth Knudsen; great-grandchildren; nieces and nephew; many friends.

PLEASE WEAR RED TO VISITATION AND MASS.

VISITATION: Saturday, February 19^th from 9:30am to 10:30am, followed by MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL at 10:30am at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 14330 Eagle Run Drive.  Interment, Calvary Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to New Cassel Foundation; St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church; or Josie Harper Hospice House.

To view a live broadcast of the Mass, please go to www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Cast” button on the home page.

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Bernice was born in Omaha, Nebraska on September 29, 1923 to William and Helen (Dougherty) Bucher.  She had one brother, George Bucher.  The family operated  SunnySide Dairy until 1936 when the family sold and moved to Wahoo, Nebraska where her father bought a farm equipment business.  They all enjoyed the small-town living.  Bernice graduated from eighth grade and her brother George graduated from high school there.  A drought came which affected the farm equipment business, so the family sold and returned to Omaha in 1938.  Bernice entered Benson High School and George entered what was then Omaha University. 

Upon graduation from Benson High School, Bernice took a secretary job, went to another one, and then married G. L. “Buck” Buckingham in October of 1943 at St. Bernard Catholic Church.  The newlyweds moved to Sacramento, California, where Buck was stationed as an instructor with the Army Signal Corps.  He was soon sent overseas and Bernice returned to Omaha.  She took a position with the Union Pacific Railroad, where she worked until the war was over and Buck returned home.  Their first child, William, was born in 1947, then Kathleen in 1950 and Nancy in 1955.  Bernice was a homemaker and helped with their family bar, the Benson Buffet, and at church.  When her children were raised, she worked at Bergan Mercy Hospital and joined the American Red Cross as a volunteer.  She continued volunteering at two hospitals for forty years, retiring at 93 years of age.

Buck died in 1990 and she married Edward Zieg in 1994.  She was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church for more than twenty years.  Edward died in 2014.  Her brother George died in 1952 due to World War II service.  Her mother died in 1964, and her father in 1972.  Her son, William, died in 2019.