Bernard D. “Bernie” Kaiser, 87, formerly of Cook Lake Trail, living in South Bend, prior to 1977, died of natural causes in the Bremen Health Care Center at 10 p.m. Sunday, January 18, 2004. Bernie was born in Chicago on May 30, 1916, the son of Mathias and Frances Lynch Kaiser. Raised in Knox, Ind., he graduated from Knox High School with the class of 1935 and then attended Purdue University.
In August of 1952, in South Bend, he was married to Blondena Hoffman, who died in 1988. A year later, in Plymouth, Bernie and Genevra Wright were married, she survives.
For over 28 years, Bernie was a steam fitter with the South Bend Bendix Corp. He retired in 1977.
A member and considered a lifetime trustee of the First United Methodist Church, he loved assisting in many ways. He was a longtime member of the Plymouth Kilwinning Masonic Lodge No. 149, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite-Valley of South Bend and York Rite of which he was a former high priest of Royal Arch Masons. Bernie was a member of the Plymouth Kiwanis Club and served as past president of the Pioneer Auto Association.
In addition to his appreciation of antique cars, Bernie was an avid golfer well into his late 70’s. He loved his grandchildren and gathered great joy in being called Grandpa.
Bernie is survived by his wife, Genevra, and a daughter, Carolyn L. and Bud Goddard, Aurora, Ill. Two step-daughters, Sarah and Bill Reichart, Bourbon, and Judy Hale, Niles, Mich., and a step-son, Jim Wright of Spear Fish, S.D., survive as well.
Six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, a sister, Phyllis Bullock, Pleasanton, Calif., and a brother, Gerald Kaiser, Hemet, Calif. are also survivors.
Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, four brothers and a sister.
A celebration of his life will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2004, in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. Masonic Rites will follow at 7 p.m. in the funeral home.
Funeral services will be in the funeral home on Thursday morning, January 22, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Dr. Dean Fager, pastor of the First United Methodist Church, Plymouth, will officiate.
Entombment will be in the Riverview Cemetery, South Bend.
Memorial gifts in Bernie’s memory may be made to the First United Methodist Church or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
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