Berniece Henschen

M. Berniece Henschen, 85 of Ossian, passed away on Sunday evening, Aug. 24, 2025, at Coventry Meadows in Fort Wayne.

Berniece was born on April 29, 1940, in Jay County to Carl and Reba (Bond) Taylor. She graduated from Pennville High School in 1958. She was an owner of Grider’s Flooring, worked for Glover & May Shoes and Jay County High School, and was a telephone operator for several places in Fort Wayne. 

After high school, Berniece was married and raised her children in Portland, Indiana. On Nov. 1, 1985, Berniece and Lynn Henschen were married at First United Methodist Church of Bluffton. At that time, the couple moved to Waynedale, Indiana, where they lived for 18 years. Lynn built a new home for them in Ossian, where they were still living.

Survivors include her husband, Lynn Henschen of Ossian; their children Mark (Elizabeth) Grider of Prichard, Wyoming, Kelli (Tim) Shores of Poneto, Gary (Deb) Grider of Hartford City, Mitch (Karen) Grider of Millroy, Indiana, Steve (Leesa) Henschen of Fort Wayne, David (Katie) Henschen of Fort Wayne and Denice (Darren) Snyder of Oceanside, California. She was a loving grandma to 17 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. She will be remembered by her siblings, Phylis (Tim) Upp of Pennville, Frank (Kathy) Taylor of Fort Wayne and Caroline (Bobby) Wines, Daisy Shuba and Jennifer Wall, all of Portland.

Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home with Pastor Bill Garver officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Ossian.

Memorials may be made to Stillwater Hospice or Coventry Meadows and can be sent to the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lemler family of Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. 

Friends may share condolences with the family at thomarich.com.