Bernetta Jean (Decker) Appleton- Edgewood

Bernetta Jean (Decker) Appleton, 90, of Edgewood, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at
the Edgewood Convalescent Home in Edgewood. She was born on October 20, 1932, on the family farm in
rural Waukon, the daughter of Ernest Edward and Cora Ella (Smith) Decker. Bernetta attended Jefferson #7
Rural Allamakee County and Waukon High School. Bernetta was a hard worker. She helped her mother in
the house and garden caring for the family of 10 children and helped extended family and neighbors when
they had need of extra help.

On February 7, 1957, Bernetta was united in marriage to Randall Appleton in Waukon. Three children were
born to this union. Bernetta worked at the S & D Café and Hale’s Store in Waukon before marrying and
moving to the farm in rural Edgewood. On the farm she raised chickens, sold eggs, strawberries and
raspberries, had a large garden with fresh peas, a special favorite, and shared garden produce with family
and neighbors. She was always teaching and her green thumb continues in the family. Together they raised
hogs with Bernetta managing the farrowing, beef with her bottle calves and row crops.
Bernetta was a great cook, baked homemade bread with her “grandma buns”’ requested for all family
gatherings, enjoyed sewing, reading, crochet, embroidery and had beautiful flower beds after retiring from
the farm. She will be greatly missed by her family.

Survivors include her children, Andy (Cindy) Appleton of Cedar Falls and Elaine (Perry) Sampson of
Colesburg; eight grandchildren, Brian (Elyssa) Appleton, Sarah (Scott) Cherne, Amber (Ryan) Jaeger, Brett
(Kenzie) Appleton, Stefanie Sampson (Justin Moos), Jaclyn (Brent) Reilly, Holly Appleton, and Austin
Appleton; nine great-grandchildren; sisters, Maureen Wagner of Cedar Rapids, Annabelle Marti of Waukon,
Geraldine Theis of Fairfax, and Janice (Norman) Melheim of Butterfield, Minnesota; and sister-in-law, Betty
Decker of Waukon.

Bernetta was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Randall Appleton in 2007; her son, Mark
Appleton; sister, Helen (Maloy) Johanningmeier, Avis (Joe) Berns, and an infant sister; brothers, George
Decker, Ernest Decker and Gerald Decker; in-laws, Carroll (Hattie) Appleton, Faith (Roy) Haines, Hope
(Robert) Schenke, and Joyce (Ray) Jackson.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Edgewood Convalescent Home and St. Croix Hospice for all of
their wonderful care.

Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Edgewood, Iowa is assisting the family.

Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com .