"Lit a candle in memory of Bernard L. Jorgensen"
In loving memory of
Bernard L. Jorgensen
October 25, 1926 - January 26, 2018
Bernard LeRoy Jorgensen was born October 25, 1926, at Astor, Iowa, the son of Jorgen and Jensine Jorgensen. He passed away Friday, January 26, 2018, at Manilla Manor in Manilla, Iowa, at the age of ninety-one.
Bernie was baptized in Christ February 20, 1927, at the American Lutheran Church in Astor, Iowa, and confirmed his faith December 25, 1948, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa. He received his education in country school and later graduated from Manilla High School in 1944. After graduation, he began his life-long career of farming in the Manilla area.
Bernie was united in marriage to Garnet Miller at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa, on August 15, 1948, and they lived on various farms until they purchased their own farm south of Manilla. Upon retirement, they moved to Denison.
In addition to his faith and family, Bernie’s life centered around farming and his interest in antique tractors. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison and the church’s Men’s Club and Fellowship Club. Bernie and Garnet enjoyed traveling to different places from coast to coast as well as watching the Ice Follies and dancing, especially at Arcadia. He also volunteered to drive cancer patients to their appointments and delivered Meals on Wheels in Denison for many years. During his retirement, Bernie sold monuments for Carlyle Memorials for two years and liked to play Euchre and ride his lawn mower, keeping his yard in tip-top shape.
Bernie was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Neil; and five brothers, Allen, Ray, Ken, LaVerne and Frank Jorgensen. Survivors include: his wife, Garnet; one daughter, Lori and her husband, James; two grandchildren, Neil and Grace; other relatives and friends.
Tributes
"Garnet, Lori, Jim and Family:
Through Men's club, Fellowship club and church I became to know Bernie very
well.
We had many interesting visits and many times a good partner in game of euchre. He was a very kind hearted person always willing to help out whenever needed. He hauled many supplies out to the fair booth each year.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time.
God's Blessings"
"Lit a candle in memory of Bernard L. Jorgensen"
"To Bernie's family, Mom (Ione Steckelberg James) wants to express her sadness on Bernie's passing. She asked about him every day since talking to him around his birthday. They were the same age she tells me. God bless your family."
"Garnet, Lori and Jim and family - We were saddened to hear about Bernie. What a wonderful, upstanding man in the church and community. God bless you all in your time of sorrow."
"Garnet, Lori, Jim, Neal and Grace Mark and I are sorry to hear of the passing of Bernie. Our history with your family goes back 40 years when we started coming to church at Trinity in Manilla. Thru the years we kept in touch by Christmas cards after we moved to Belmond. Garnet, I am thankful for our visit last August and spending and time visiting with you and Bernie. What a blessing to know that Bernie is with our Lord and Savior and that we will see him and visit again. God's blessings Mark and Jerri"
"It is with sorrow that I bid a fond farewell to my uncle Bernie, a man of great integrity, the salt of earth. Whether Bernie knew it or not, he taught me a lot about how to become an honorable adult; not so much by his words, but by the way he lived his life. As a youngster, visiting Bernie and his beloved wife Garnet on their farm near Manilla was a special treat. The memory of that big red barn is forever burned into my memory (along with the taste of Garnets roasted goose). For Garnet, Lori, Jim, Neal, Grace, and others he left behind: may you be comforted by the memories of a special man who walked with God on this earth and is now home with his creator. Dennis Miller Las Cruces, New Mexico (Formerly Ames, IA)"
"I have so many fond memories of Bernie from when I was growing up. Bernie rented my grandparents farm after they retired. My brothers and I spent part of each summer visiting my grandparents and looked forward to helping Bernie. He brought excitement to the farm. We would listen for the sound of his tractor coming up the road, anticipating his smile, his teasing, and his willingness to explain whatever he was doing that day to city kids, and, of course, the white T-shirt and cap. As we got older, we actually got to help Bernie some and we thought that was the best thing ever. Over the years we got to know and love Garnet and watch Lori grow up. My last visit to see Bernie and Garnet was when Stan, Chris and I made a trip to Iowa in 2011. We three kids dressed in white T-shirts and caps as we walked to the door of their Denison home. We had a wonderful visit that I will treasure the rest of my life. ~Martha Bidlack Russell"
"Garnet & family...we certainly share in your sorrow. You were such good friends and neighbors to Ruth & Barney...and we quickly understood why. Such a good man & a blessing to all who knew him. May you be blessed with the comfort of our Lord & be held in his loving arms during this time of deep sorrow. Our thoughts & prayers are with you especially now. God bless you and keep you. Lynna"
"I am sorry to read of Bernard passing. Please take courage in knowing that God cares for you and your family during this difficult time. (1 Peter 5:7)"
"We met Bernie & Garnet after they transferred to Zion Lutheran in Denison from Manilla. Right away they devoted themselves to their new church family, always being found in worship and Bible study. Despite being in his 80s at the time, Bernie humbly served as an elder for several years, seldom missing a meeting or his turn at opening the church for 8 a.m. worship. Butch greatly enjoyed working and visiting with him in this capacity. And after Bernie entered Manilla Manor, Butch would make time for a leisurely visit when the early voting team stopped in for his absentee vote. Even though we didn't know Bernie as long as the Bidlacks, it was obvious he was a real salt-of-the-earth guy who respected all people and did his part to make our country great. Our sympathies to Lori & Jim, Neil & Gracie and also Mike Segebart who seems like an unofficial Jorgensen! Renee and Butch Miller, Denison"
"Bernie: what a fine and good life-long friend. He was a great man. They broke the mold when they made Bernie Jorgensen. Stan Bidlack, Pinckney, Michigan"
"Growing up, we kids spent our summers on our grandparent's farm outside of Manilla. For my brother and me, one of the high points was seeing Bernie again. Bernie, ever seared into our memories in a white tee-shirt and a white ball cap, rented my grandparent's farm land. He was our hero, taking us on tractor rides and letting us tag along. My brother and I would often put on our white tee shirts and white hats, so that we could be like Bernie. He was a gentle soul, and a gentleman. I last saw Bernie when I was traveling from my US Air Force assignment in Wyoming to home in Michigan. I stopped off at the house he and his wonderful and beloved wife Garnet had bought in Denison, after fully retiring. I had a video camera, and Bernie pulled out the white tee shirt and the white hat, and let me film him as I "snuck" into their house, to his fake yells of "Police! Help! Burglers!" Bernie Jorgensen didn't know it, but he was the backbone of the United States. He grew our food, and lived a life of honor and caring. You may not have known him, but your life was better because he lived among us. I will miss him, but I'm so glad I knew him. -Lt Col Hal Bidlack, Ph.D. USAF -- Retired"