Fifth Generation

51. Gerald Elmer BERNHARDT was born on 20 November 1919 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^8,27,30,38 He appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁸ He appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.² Gerald died on 30 June 1990 at the age of 70 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, WI.³⁰ He was buried in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁷ in the Mount Vernon-Jacksonville Cemetery.

Gerald Elmer BERNHARDT and Norma Helen WEILAND were married on 12 December 1945 in Kendall, Glendale Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁰ Norma Helen WEILAND died on 3 March 2023 in Onalaska, La Crosse County, WI.⁷³ Obituary Notes: "Norma Helen Bernhardt, 98, of Tomah, died peacefully on Friday, March 3, 2023 at the Onalaska Care Center. She was born on December 9, 1924. Norma was born to Henry and Dora (Lippoldt) Weiland in Monroe County. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, Kendall. She was a member of the Elroy High School Graduating Class of 1942.

She was united in marriage to Gerold E. Bernhardt on December 12, 1945 at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Kendall. He preceded her in death on June 30, 1990. They farmed just outside of Kendall, and in the Tomah area for 22 years.

Norma worked in Dietary Services at Tomah Memorial Hospital for 27 years, until her retirement in 1995. During her time working for the hospital she made lifelong friends. After her retirement she was a volunteer for the Tomah Hospital Auxiliary at the gift shop making dish towels and pillow cases to be sold to benefit hospital services. She also embroidered tablecloths, doilies, latch-hooked rugs, and wall hangings for her family. She was an excellent cook and will always be remembered for her Cinna swirls, and peanut bars. Norma had a strong faith and was a lifelong member of the WELS Synod. She had a great sense of humor and a loving and gentle personality. She will be sadly missed by all that knew and loved her.

She is survived by a son Dale (Linda) Bernhardt of Platteville, a daughter Vona Hiser of Onalaska, 4 grandchildren, Nathan (Amy) Keller, Ashley (Derek) Nowak, Jesse Bernhardt (Nikki Rosemeyer), and Sarah (Raymond) Eisemann, 8 great-grandchildren, Austin and Andrew Keller, Camden and Miles Nowak, Madeline and Sadie Eisemann, Tate and Lane Breitsprecker, many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by a son-in-law Russell, a granddaughter, Nicole, a sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Ellis Burdette, 2 brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert and Naydeen Weiland, Edward and Lucille Weiland, an infant sister-in-law, 2 brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dorwin and Lila Bernhardt, and LaVern and Bertha Bernhardt.

A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday March 9, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Ave., Tomah. Pastor Robert Gerke will officiate. Burial will be in the Mount Vernon Cemetery." She was buried in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁷ in the Mount Vernon-Jacksonville Cemetery.

Gerald Elmer BERNHARDT and Norma Helen WEILAND had the following children: