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‘Bernie’ Kaczmarek Obituary – 9/28/2015


Bernard “Bernie” John Kaczmarek, age 82, of Silver Lake, passed away Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

He was born Aug. 19, 1933, in Glencoe, to Louis and Cecelia (Wozniak) Kaczmarek.

Bernard was united in Holy Matrimony to Laura Ann Schermann April 18, 1961, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Silver Lake by Father Albert Slechta. The two were blessed with six children.

Bernie was a dairy farmer in Stockholm Township for more than 40 years. Along with farming, he hauled milk cans for Stockholm Creamery. He later worked at Philip Johnson Cab Company in Cokato, while continuing to farm until his retirement, and moved to Silver Lake in 1995.

Bernie served in the Army between 1956 and 1958.

He was a member of many organizations, including the Knights of Columbus and was Grand Knight, Degree of Honor, Senior Citizens Club, and Senior Dining, grand marshal of Silver Lake, supervisor at C &H Elevator, and church council member.

Bernie enjoyed playing cards, tinkering in his shed, going on drives in the country, traveling, Friday morning coffee, dinner with friends, sweets – especially ice cream, polka music, and time spent with his family (family always came first). He was very proud of his Polish heritage, and enjoyed teaching his grandchildren words and phrases in Polish.

Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Cecelia Kaczmarek; son Dean Kaczmarek; sisters Dolores (Stanley) Chrast and Dorothy (Jerome) Ruzicka; and mother-in-law and father-in-law Anna and Frank Schermann.

He is survived by his wife, Laura Kaczmarek of Silver Lake; children, Darrell (Rhonda) Kaczmarek of Silver Lake, Barbara (Robin) Farnes of Hutchinson, Bonnie Kaczmarek of Silver Lake, Brenda (Scott) Tschimperle of Brownton, and Betty (Paul) Davis of Silver Lake; grandchildren, Matthew, Christine (Jared), Heather (Brian), Zachary, Nicole (Jordon), Nathan, Tyler, Cody, Kyle, Myles, Mackenzie, Olivia, Maxwell, Jayden, and Madison; and great-grandchildren Bentley Stockman and Dylan Brecht.

Bernie is further survived by brothers Donald (Brenda) Kaczmarek of Ohio, and Gerald (Marie) Kaczmarek of Hutchinson; and many other relatives and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial took place Friday, Oct. 2 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Silver Lake with Father Paul Schumacher as the celebrant for the Mass. Interment followed at St. Adalbert Cemetery in Silver Lake.

Honorary casket bearers were Christine Brecht, Heather Stockman, Nicole Hempel, Mackenzie Davis, Kyle Christensen, Olivia Farnes, Maxwell Davis, Jayden Tschimperle, and Madison Tschimperle.

Casket bearers were Matthew Kaczmarek, Tyler Kaczmarek, Nathan Kaczmarek, Zachary Kaczmarek, Cody Christensen, and Myles Davis.

In honor of Grandpa Bernie, each grandson wore one of his ties.

The Maresh Funeral Home in Silver Lake served the family.

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