Della Bernice Alsup Disbrow, 95, passed away November 24 in Chandler, AZ. A gathering to celebrate her life will be announced later. Memorials may be made in her name to the Macon County Genealogy Society or the charity of your choice. Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes, Decatur, is assisting the family.
Bernice was born on October 21, 1922 to parents Margaret and Charles Alsup in Latham, Illinois, the fifth of seven children. She was raised on a farm in the Warrensburg area. Bernice attended Warrensburg Latham schools and married her high school sweetheart, Lewis Benning Disbrow, on August 22, 1940.
Ben and Bernice had 4 sons, Jim, Ted, Bob and Tom. The family initially lived on the farm, but later transitioned to living in Argenta. Eventually, Ben and Bernice moved to the Disbrow Family Farm outside of Warrensburg where they lived for many years. Bernice worked outside the home most of her career. She was an excellent secretary and book keeper and spent most her career in the insurance industry. She ended her career running her own federal crop insurance agency.
Upon her husband Ben’s retirement from Caterpillar, they started Black Bart’s Pumpkin Patch on the historic Disbrow family farm on Wyckles Road east of Warrensburg. For several years they hosted many school field trips for local students who enjoyed a free pumpkin and tales of Black Bart.
Ben and Bernice extensively researched family genealogy with great interest. Bernice published two books which trace the family history from the early days of our country to the publishing date with many stories of ancestral life and times.
Ben and Bernice were married for almost sixty-nine years until he died in 2009. They were social, outgoing, friendly people who enjoyed their large family and many friends. Ben and Bernice lived their entire lives in and around the Decatur Communities. Bernice lived the last six years in Chandler, AZ close to one of her sons and his family.
Bernice was preceded in death by one son, Jim, her husband and all the Alsups and Disbrows of her generation except her sister, Mable McCane of Ft. Myers, FL and sister-in-law Rose Ellen Wentworth of Decatur. She is survived by sons Ted (Jackie) of Chandler, AZ, Bob (Jessica) of Decatur and Tom (Lee) of Columbia, SC and 12 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
Bernice’s family was the true love of her life and she always had time, energy and love for all of them. To quote a grandson “I have learned so many wonderful life lessons from her words over the years, some of which I find myself reciting to others and my family. She truly defines matriarch and is an enduring role model for all of us.”
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