Bernice Keinarth

December 18, 1925 - January 31, 2022

Born on December 18, 1925, the first child of Louis and Lillie Adamcik, Bernice Adamcik Keinarth always considered El Campo to be her home. Her parents, her two younger brothers, Elton and Merrill Adamcik, and her husband Arthur Keinarth preceded Bernice in death. Art and Bernice met and fell in love on the dance floor of the old Palacios Pavilion during WWII. For almost 60 years they continued to be spectacular dancing partners, moving together and apart with graceful and joyful style and intention, both on the dance floor and throughout daily life. Bernice delighted in the adventure of travel and she and Art took up temporary residence in a variety of places as he pursued his military career. After his death in 2002, Bernice continued to season her long and useful life traveling with family and friends. On January 31, 2022, when her Spirit gently returned home, she was residing in Austin, Texas where she moved in 2015, to be closer to her extended family. Bernice is survived by her daughter Sharyn Keinarth Reynolds (her husband Gary) of Austin and two sons, Art Keinarth (his wife Sally) of Bastrop and Paul Keinarth (his wife Mary) of Austin. Bernice experienced a sense of deep joy in any connection with her six grandchildren: Matthew and Aaron Reynolds, Payne, Jake and Daniel Keinarth and Kathleen Keinarth Llamas. She also has six great-grandchildren who will surely carry the benefits of her loving interest and attention into the future. Never one to be idle, Bernice was always deeply involved in service to the community. She was a 1943 graduate of ECHS and for over eight decades an active volunteer in a many organizations supporting the needs of children, public education, veterans, gardening and public beautification, as well as the development of the Heritage Center and The El Campo Museum. In her early professional life Bernice worked in retail and later as a bookkeeper and office manager with Growers Marketing Association. While working, volunteering and raising an active family, she dedicated many nights, weekends and summer months to furthering her education. Starting out at Wharton County Junior College and taking courses at several colleges and universities when she and Art would be on temporary duty, Bernice ultimately earned both Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Houston, as well as advanced teaching certifications for Special Education and Public Administration. Her first position in ECISD was as a Teacher’s Aid but over 20 years of employment in the District, she retired as the Principal of the Meadow Lane School. Throughout her adult life she lived out her deep and rich family values through membership in the Czech Heritage Society, the Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church of El Campo and The University Presbyterian Church in Austin. The family will return Bernice’s body to it’s earthly home, where she will be buried alongside her husband and surrounded by her extended family in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in El Campo in a private family burial and the time and place for a public Celebration of her life will be announced at a later time. The viewing will be from 4-6 p.m. Friday, February 11 at Triska Funeral Home in El Campo. A private graveside service will be held with the immediate family present. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Matthew Reynolds, Aaron Reynolds, Payne Keinarth, Jake Keinarth, Daniel Keinarth and Kathleen Keinarth Llamas. Triska Funeral Home, El Campo, 979-543-3681