Bernice Gurka

Bernice Gurka, age 94, of Brenham passed away peacefully on July 16, 2026.

Bernice was born on April 15, 1932, in Burton, Texas, to Oscar and Martha (Kind) Wolff, Sr. She attended schools in both Washington County and Robstown before returning to Washington County, where she married the love of her life, William H. Klaus, on June 23, 1947. Together they were blessed with two daughters and shared a life of family and treasured moments together until William's passing in 1971.

On October 14, 1978, Bernice married Johnnie Karl Gurka in Beeville, Texas. Together they returned to Brenham, where they built a life rooted in faith, love, and family. Their home was known for its warm hospitality, where family gatherings and time spent with loved ones were always treasured. Bernice and Johnnie enjoyed visiting with friends, playing card games and dominoes, and sharing countless laughs together. They shared over 40 wonderful years of marriage until Johnnie's passing in 2019.

Bernice was a kind and loving woman who never met a stranger. She had a gift for making everyone feel welcomed. Her greatest joy in life was her family, especially her grandchildren, who held a special place in her heart. She enjoyed hosting family gatherings and holiday celebrations, creating memories around her table. She was an exceptional cook and baker, Bernice expressed her love through the meals she prepared. She was especially known for her homemade potatoes and gravy, a favorite among family and friends that became one of her most treasured traditions.

She is preceded in death by parents; husbands; siblings Martha Wolff, Oscar Wolff Jr., Helen Sweet, Hildagarde Schultz, Emma Harmel, and Mary Arrington.

She is survived by her daughters and son-in-law Donna and Ronnie Mueller, Mary Jane “Sissy” McMeans; grandchildren and spouses Michelle and Randall Kohring, Amy and Tim Huebner, Melissa and Nick Kral; great-grandsons Dane Gross and Brittany Blythe, Aaron Kohring; great-great-grandsons River Gross and Tyler Lehmann; sister-in-law Dorothy Wolff; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be Randall Kohring, Tim Huebner, Nick Kral, Ronnie Moon, Aaron Kohring and Dane Gross. Honorary Pallbearers are John Allen Wolff, Robert Wolff and Mark Wolff.

A visitation for Bernice will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. A funeral service will begin at 10:00 a.m., with Pastor Jay Graves officiating. Interment will follow at Prairie Lea Cemetery.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Amedisys Hospice for the compassionate care and support shown to Bernice and her family. They also wish to express a special thank you to Nikki McDonald and Jasmine Fagan for the love, kindness, and exceptional care they provided, treating Bernice like family every step of the way.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/ or to St. Jude’s Research Hospital, Impact the lives of St. Jude kids.

Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX 77833. Phone number 979-836-3611. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.brenhammemorialchapel.com