Bernhardine A. "Dine" Bouwhuis

Bernhardine Bouwhuis, of Bourbon, MO peacefully departed this life on July 24, 2025, at the age of 94. She was born in Bruchhausen, Germany on March 7th, 1931. She endured a turbulent childhood as WWII was unfolding. Her greatest joy was meeting the love of her life Werner Bouwhuis. They were married on August 27, 1954.

Their union was blessed with one son, Wolfgang. Led by her adventurous spirit, the family of three set off on a journey to achieve the American Dream in the spring of 1959. They left their homeland with very little and embarked on their voyage across the ocean to settle in St. Louis, Missouri. Later in life, her and Werner moved to the Lake of the Ozarks to enjoy retirement and spent many winters as snowbirds in Florida. She lived a life full of adventure, traveling with and caring for her husband; returning to Germany to visit family many times, visiting France, Alaska and many other places. She built many lasting friendships along the way. Those who knew her knew that making memories with family was a source of great joy. She relocated to Bourbon, MO in 2006 to be closer to family. Bernhardine expressed her creativity and found purpose in making quilts for those she loved and donating quilts to children in foster care. She greatly enjoyed hosting family gatherings, cooking large German meals, baking, and spending time with her Great Grandchildren.

Bernhardine “Dine” will be missed by many. She is survived by her son and daughter in-law, Wolfgang and Ann Bouwhuis, as well as her granddaughters Romy (Timothy) Uelk and Abigail (Matthew) Bremer and three great grandchildren Lena Uelk, Adler Bremer, and Nora Uelk. She will be greatly missed by her sister Erika Gerkins and sisters-in-law Josefine Groppe and Gerda (Dieter) Tollner. Dine’s memory will live on with her dear friends, nephews, niece, and extended family both here and in Germany.

She was proceeded in death by her loving husband Werner, her brother Karl Groppe, sister-in-law Irmgard Vogel and husband Rudy, niece Linda Heep(Vogel), brother-in-law Horst Gerkins, as well as many friends and extended family members.

In keeping with her wishes, Bernhardine will be cremated. Private family inurnment will be held at Lake Memorial Gardens in Osage Beach, Missouri. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

The Mizell Funeral Home of Cuba is honored to be serving the family of Barnhardine "Dine" Bouwhuis.