Bernard C. Oertel

Bernard C. Oertel went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, September 30, 2009, at the age of 95 while surrounded by his children.

Bernard was born in Racine on December 17, 1913, to William and Carrie (nee, Borowsky) Oertel. He served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during WWII. Bernard retired from Gorton Machine Company in 1972 after more than 32 years of service. He was a lifelong member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church, actively involved as an usher, member of the choir and served on the building committee and as a former member of the Board of Trustees.

Bernard was also a member of the Gorton Twenty Year Club and the V.F.W. Bernard enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing cards, especially sheepshead and cribbage. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and wore out several Candyland games. He will always be remembered as a wonderful grandfather and a very proud dad of his children and their accomplishments.

Survivors include his children, Ted (Deborah) Oertel, Donna (Peter) Weinfurter and David (Jan) Oertel; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Oertel; grandchildren, Ryan (Jennifer) Oertel, Barry (Megan) Oertel, Amy (Fiancé Scott) Oertel, Nick (Erica) Oertel, Michael (Autumn) Oertel, Carley Oertel, James Oertel, Sara (Shawn) Rewald and Julie Weinfurter; seven great-grandchildren and one due in May. Bernard is also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Paul H. Oertel; brothers and a sister-in-law, William C. and Peggy Oertel and LeRoy Oertel; his sister and brother-in-law, Anna and Homer Beebe; and sister, Ruth.

Funeral services for Bernard will be held at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 728 Villa St., on Sunday, October 4, 2009, at 4:30 p.m. with Rev. John Roekle officiating. Private family interment will take place in Graceland Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the church on Sunday afternoon from 3 p.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First Evangelical Lutheran Church or the American Lung Association.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the former staffs of the Lincoln Center and Villa St. Anna, the current staff of Walnut Grove (Harbor House), the staff at the Zablocki V.A. Medical Center and Wheaton Franciscan Hospice especially nurse Mary Jensen for their many years of friendship and compassionate care they gave to our father, Bernard. The family would also like to extend their sincere thanks and gratitude to the Clergy at First Evangelical Lutheran Church for their pastoral care and many visits over the past ten years.

Purath-Strand Funeral Home & Crematory
3915 Douglas Ave., Racine (262) 639-8000