Claudia Ellen Berns, 80, of Sturgeon Bay, WI passed into the arms of her Savior on July 17, 2026. Claudia was born on November 19, 1945, in Green Bay, the daughter of Arnold and Hazel (Eastman) Foxworthy. From her mother she learned the art of creating joy and fun even when one had very little; from her father she learned a love of nature and humor. Fourth in a family of six kids, Claudia grew up in a small house in North Bay, where she loved playing in the "cedar palace", picking flowers, and riding horses with the neighbors. Claudia attended Gibraltar High School and graduated in 1963. Later that same year, on November 9, 1963, she married the boy across the road, Emery Berns. They built their life together on a foundation of authenticity, knowing each other since childhood and working their way through grief and struggle together. Their love story centers on the sort of friendship, support, and perseverance that only decades together can prove. After welcoming their three children, Claudia and Emery built their home in Sturgeon Bay, WI, eventually splitting their time with the family homestead in North Bay. As a young mother, Claudia stayed home with her children, then began work as a Dietary Aid for Door County Medical Center. She was passionate about her work at the hospital and enjoyed the camaraderie of working alongside others. Claudia attended Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and enjoyed Bible study at Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church for many years. She listed her hobbies as enjoying family get togethers, sewing, cooking, and garage sales, but those who knew her best knew her real joy was simple conversations with her family and friends. Claudia was an avid letter-writer, a talented storyteller, and a woman of style and vision. Her home was always a welcoming place, decorated with flowers and birds in the summer, and Christmas mice and an elaborate winter village over the holiday season. If you were to stop by, you would be greeted with a pot of coffee and some sort of bakery already waiting. Claudia taught her loved ones the tools to build community and overcome disagreements, continually recentering on what mattered most. Her advice was always firm words softly delivered, which made the impact impossible to ignore. She was also a lover of music, from old Baptist hymns and the rock-n-roll of her youth, to her favorite "headbangers" of the '80s. She was eclectic in the things she loved. Her grandchildren share an equal amount of memories of dancing around the campfire to Whitesnake together and listening to her pluck out folk tunes on the guitar or starting singalongs on our annual Fourth of July hayride. As Claudia's mobility waned, her investment in the lives of her children and grandchildren only strengthened. She was the first in line to hear what was new and pass it along to the rest of the family, keeping us all connected the way only the matriarch could. And when she couldn't be there, she learned every new technology she could so that she could be as present as possible, sharing in personal joys as if they were her own. Claudia will be dearly missed by her husband of 63 years, Emery; daughters Jeanie (Ricky) Hembel and Deb (Doug) McDonald; son Keven (Dawn) Berns; grandchildren Danielle (Erick) Steiniger, Kasey (Ben) Hock, Joshua Hembel, Hannah (Sam) Senerchia, Hope Copiskey, and Colton Berns; and great-grandchildren Hazel, Juniper, Braylon, Marigold, and Kinsley. She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings Ronald Foxworthy, Sharon Bastian, and Kelly Foxworthy. As heartbroken as we are to lose her, we know she was greeted into welcoming arms. Claudia's life will be honored with a funeral service held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on Monday, July 27, 2026 at 11:00 am with Pastor James Gomez officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be at the church from 9:00 am until time of service. She will be laid to rest in Baileys Harbor Town Cemetery at 2:00 pm. Family and friends are invited to attend. Huehns Funeral Home is assisting the Berns family. Memories of Claudia may be shared with her family through her tribute page at https://www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.