Bernice Ruth Friedrich (Holz) Goppert, 99, went to her eternal home to be with her Savior on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
She was born on Jan. 21, 1927, at her parents’ home in Freyburg, to Ed H. and Erna (Umlang) Friedrich. She was baptized on Feb. 20, 1927, at her parents’ home by Rev. Alfred Bohot and was confirmed on March 17, 1940, at Salem Lutheran Church, Freyburg, by Rev. E. C, Knoernschild.
Bernice was a farm girl, growing up in Freyburg during the Great Depression. She had many farm chores like feeding animals, milking cows, rounding up the turkeys every evening from the field and her least favorite, picking cotton starting at age 5 – she noted, “I liked picking corn much better than cotton.”
She attended Salem Lutheran Parochial School, Freyburg Public School and graduated from Schulenburg High School in 1944.
She spent her life in the communities of Freyburg, Seguin, Victoria and Houston, eventually returning to her roots in Freyburg in 1963, where she was a member at Salem Lutheran Freyburg, Swiss Alp Lutheran Church and then Zion Lutheran Church Schulenburg for the past 56 years.
She was formerly married to Nelson Holz, and together they were blessed with four children – Lloyd Holz (Judy), Ronnie Holz (Wayne), Kyle Holz (Debi) and Renee Mikesky (Shawn). She had five grandchildren – Andrew Holz (Margaret), Bree Holz Gonzales (Roger), Ryan Holz (Sarah), Leah Mikesky Andre (Kaden) and Shannon Hentges (Hale); and nine greatgrandchildren – William, Daniel, Lucas, Raelyn, Brenna, Ezra, Aubrey, Brady and Otto. She is also survived by her stepchildren – Fred Goppert Jr., Debbie Besaw, Kenny Goppert and Dora Jo Bartek; her sister-in-law, Jeanette Friedrich; and many nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Nelson(Ruby) Friedrich, Lawrence (Tracy) Friedrich and Clarence Friedrich; her sister, Myrtle (Alfons) Vacek; and her daughter-in-law, Patricia Holz.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 10 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church. Burial was in the Salem Memorial Cemetery in Freyburg.