Fifth Generation

53. LaVern Leon BERNHARDT was born on 15 January 1925 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,27,75 He appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.² He died on 14 May 2014 at the age of 89 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁵

Obituary Notes: "LaVern Bernhardt, 89, of Tomah died Friday, May 16, 2014, at his home.
He was born to Herb and Mabel Bernhardt in the Town of Tomah. He was united in marriage to Bertha Sorensen Feb. 18, 1947, at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, Tomah. She preceded him in death Jan. 31, 2003.

He was a dairy farmer in the Town of Tomah his entire life. In 1987, he gave up the cows and continued crop farming. He also worked at various cranberry marshes. LaVern doctored at the VA Hospital for several years where he was known as the “bingo king.” He drove the Amish and many became close friends. He was an avid hunter, who hunted many years with his brothers, nephews, daughter and son-in-law. LaVern was a faithful member of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church. He was a World War II Army veteran, a member of the Grassman-Larson-Sowle-Senz American Legion Post #201 and a member of the 40th and 8th La Societe des Quarente Hommes et Huit Chevaux. He was a lifetime member of the I-Dividers Snowmobile Club. Everyone knew him as a simple man with a big heart. He was a proud husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He had a passion for his family, friends, farming, bingo and was famous for his story telling.

He is survived by his daughter, Sandra (Dale) Chroninger; four grandchildren, Stephanie (Pat) Brynes, Amy (Thomas) Brieske, Andy (Stephanie) Chroninger and Anita (Jeff) Fisher, ten great-grandchildren, Riley, Logan, Emily, Nicole, Brooke, Krysta, NcAylee, Noland, Andrew, and Ava; two sisters-in-law, Norma Bernhardt and Marian Kersting; a devoted friend, Johnny Blaschke; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bertha; his parents; two brothers, Gerald and Dorwin Bernhardt; an infant sister; three sisters-in-law, Loretta Gerke, LaVerne Wacholz and Lila Bernhardt; and five brothers-in-law, Bud and Walter Sorenson, Anuff Kersting, Maynard Wacholz, and Reuben Gerke.

Funeral services will be noon Tuesday at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Ave., Tomah. Pastor Donald R. Buch will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Vernon Cemetery, in the Town of Tomah with military honors by Grassman-Larson-Sowle-Senz American Legion Post#201."

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LaVern Leon BERNHARDT and Bertha Ida SORENSON were married on 18 February 1947 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^30,38,41 Bertha Ida SORENSON, daughter of Hans C. SORENSON and Minnie A. MESNER, was born on 5 January 1927 in Knapp Township, Jackson County, WI.^30,38 She died on 31 January 2003 at the age of 76 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, WI.³⁰ She was buried on 3 February 2003 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^30,47 in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.

LaVern Leon BERNHARDT and Bertha Ida SORENSON had the following children: