10/9/2020 7:47:00 AM
Private service for Nado Bernard held at Bernard family farm
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Nado A. Bernard, 87, a lifelong Stewartville area farmer, died on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020 of natural causes at the Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, where he had been a resident since July of this year.
Nado Alvin Bernard Jr. was born on Dec. 18, 1932 on the Bernard family farm in Pleasant Grove Township to Nado and Isabel (Turner) Bernard. He grew up on the family farm, attended the Bernard country school and began farming with his family.
Nado was married on Aug. 24, 1957 at North Prairie Lutheran Church in Arendahl to Eva E. Borgen. After their marriage the couple moved to the Bernard family farm where they raised their children, farmed, and continued to make their home. Nado was a lifelong farmer and also sold Cargill Seed Corn for over 20 years. Eva was a farmwife and homemaker and was also employed in the Mayo Med Lab at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for a number of years. Nado was a longtime active member of Chatfield Lutheran Church where he served as President of the Church Council. He was an excellent mechanic. He enjoyed working on his International tractors, was a member of the Red Power Tractor Association, was a 4-H leader, and a member of the Farm Bureau. He built a covered wagon that he and Eva would ride in area events pulled by their faithful horse, Dakota. Together they participated in the Friendship Wagon Train. The Bernard's enjoyed traveling, including trips to the Bahamas, Ireland, Norway, and road trips, even to Alaska, driving and camping in their RV. Two close friends, Darrell Hornseth and Kermit Zimmerman, came to the farm for over 20 years to work on and restore old trucks, tractors, and antique engines. Nado liked visiting with friends and neighbors and loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Nado is survived by his wife of 63 years, Eva; a daughter, Bonnie (Mark) Schmitz of Stewartville; two sons, Donny Bernard of Chatfield, and Tim (Deborah Gelerter) Bernard of Edgewater, Florida; a foreign exchange daughter, Linda (John) Kuiper of South Africa; 10 grandchildren, Lindsay Bernard, Chelsay (Joe) Gartner, Aoife O'Reilly, Cian O'Reilly, Aisling O'Reilly, Tyler Schmitz, Meghan Schmitz, Allison Schmitz, Natanael Bernard, Mikael Bernard, Jeremia Bernard, Isak Bernard and three great-grandchildren, Jacquelyn, Amelia and Harvey; many nieces and nephews; and a sister-in-law, Eva Bernard of Halstad.
He was preceded in death by his son, Nado James Bernard, his parents, two sisters, Muriel Nielsen and Vivian Coe, and six brothers, Basil, John, Loren, Robert, Leonard and Harvey Bernard.
Due to public health restrictions and concerns, a private family service with Rev. Mark Docken of Chatfield Lutheran Church officiating, will take place on the Bernard family farm. A committal service will follow at Chatfield Cemetery in Chatfield.
Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of Nado are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com.
Memorials can be directed to Chatfield Lutheran Church, 304 Fillmore St. SE, Chatfield, MN 55923.
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