obit templateheritagefunera2018-11-29T12:10:12+00:00
Bernard Francis
Bernard Francis
Van Dinter
- Visitation will be held at ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC FAITH COMMUNITY
- 9520 West Forest Home Avenue Hales Corners, WI 53130
- Tuesday, July 23 from 9:30-10:45 am
- Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 am
Please access church via lower parking lot, upper lot being resurfaced
Bernard Francis
Van Dinter
Bernard Francis Van Dinter was born on June 26, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the family home shared with his parents and grandparents. He peacefully passed away in Lakewood, Colorado on July 3, 2024. Bernie spent much of his childhood living throughout the country as the Coast Guard transferred his father to Grove City, Pennsylvania, Duluth, Minnesota, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. His grandparents and extended family were a loving presence throughout his life.
Bernie spent many boyhood summers up north on his cousins’ farms. He enjoyed farm life and chores, the most important of which was keeping his younger sister Barbara out of trouble.
Bernie graduated from Bay View High School and went on to earn a degree in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University. After graduation from Marquette he was inducted into the U.S. Army, serving in the Signal Corps at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Following his military service, Bernie spent over 40 years at Wisconsin Electric Power Company/WE Energies in numerous engineering and supervisory roles, eventually managing every aspect of the coal and natural gas generation system as well as the transmission and distribution network. At the time of his retirement, he had risen to Vice President and Assistant to the President.
While at WEPCO, Bernie met the love of his life, Judith Madole. They married in 1973 and daughter Jennifer completed their family a few years later.
Following Judy’s death in 1995, Bernie devoted his retirement to family, faith, and community. Bernie volunteered at St. Mary Catholic Faith Community in Hales Corners, assisting with daily Mass and volunteering at the parish festival. His faith was a cornerstone of his life.
Bernie dedicated ample volunteer time and knowledge to the East Troy Electric Railroad, serving on the board of directors for nearly 25 years. The depot in East Troy was renamed in his honor in 2009.
An accomplished amateur genealogist, Bernie established a direct lineage to Charlemagne. Bernie treated everyone as a descendant of a king should: humbly, respectfully, and offering guidance when asked. He added great knowledge to the known histories of the Van Dinter and Madole families.
In 2020, Bernie moved to Colorado to be closer to his daughter Jennifer and her family. He loved her and her family dearly, especially his grandchildren Ethan and Abigail. In the last few years, he enjoyed many competitive games of Monopoly with his grandchildren and educated them on their critical quality control roles to test their mother’s baked goods. After all, Bernie never met a cookie he didn’t like!
Bernie is survived by his daughter Jennifer, son-in-law David Lefaive, and grandchildren Ethan and Abby. Also surviving are his brother-in-law, John Madole, many nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, and former co-workers. He was preceded in death by his wife Judy, parents Margaret and Bernard and sister Barbara.
Visitation will be held at ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC FAITH COMMUNITY 9520 West Forest Home Avenue Hales Corners, WI 53130 on Tuesday, July 23 from 9:30-10:45 am. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 am. Entombment and Military Honors at Arlington Park Cemetery Greenfield, WI on Wednesday, July 24 at 10am.
www.heritagefuneral.com
Jenny, Bernie has always been a very special person in my life and especially in Jim‘s. We’ve enjoyed very many Christmases with you and him, and have enjoyed having you as a part of our family celebration. It’s been an honor, knowing him. You are so correct when you say he treated everyone kindly. He was always such a down to earth guy. You were his pride and joy, and you know he loves you dearly. He adored his grandchildren and his son-in-law, who could always roll with a punch out of the new guy at our gatherings. I have so many good memories of all of you he will be missed.
BERNIE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE IN YOUR HEART. He has touched many lives.
Sorry for your loss Jenny, we just heard about you Dad’s passing. He was a great guy.
This weekend, St. Mary’s bulletin posted their annual “Remembering Our Faithful Departed” bulletin. Due to spending a full summer up North we are just now finding out that Bernie made his journey home. How we would have wanted to be there for his celebration of life! My husband Larry, our son Andy & I had the pleasure of seeing Bernie every Sunday for 13 years as sacristans and serving occasional weekday funeral masses. Bernie was wise, kind & a joy to be with. He said serving for someone’s funeral was “an honor”! It was an honor knowing YOU Bernie Van Dinter!!! Until we meet again!