Clara Caroline Johanna Blanke Bernhardt, 103, of Anacortes, WA, passed away in her home on August 27th, 2016. Clara was born in Bremen, Kansas. She was the 7th of the 8 children of Dietrich and Sophia Gleue Blanke and absorbed the German-American pragmatism, humility, and deep Lutheran faith so abundant in that part of the Midwest. Besides an abiding work ethic, Clara developed a love of beauty, whether it be of nature, of intricate stitchery, or of any job well done. Combining this with the urge to make her own way, she pursued training at the "Venus Beauty Academy" in Wichita, KS, and then opened her own hair salon, "The Vogue", in Scandia, KS.
During her first year beautifying the ladies and a few brave men, she met Pastor Harvey H. Bernhardt, also a product of down-to-earth Kansas Russian-Americans. The courtship was successful, as were so many endeavors Harvey pursued, and they were married April 19th, 1939. They set up housekeeping in Marysville, KS, and their first child, Gary, was born on July 16th, 1941. Over the next 2 decades, Harvey was "called" to a series of churches throughout Kansas, Nebraska, and finally Missouri. He developed a reputation as a healer of congregations having difficulties and a builder of new churches, and with Clara at his side, they served congregations in Linn, KS; Wisner, NE; Washington, KS; and then Rockport, MO. Harvey and Clara orchestrated the construction of new churches and parsonages in both Washington, and in Rockport.
Meanwhile, their daughter, Ruth Ann, was born in O'Dell, NE, on July 24th, 1947. Shepherding their flock of parishioners led this foursome into a life of music, of youth basketball and baseball, of soothing the ill, the anguished, and the lost, of leading by example, and developed in Clara her love of "visitation". Clara's gift became the desire and ability to connect with others, listen with depth and compassion, learn their life histories, and bring a measure of joy and happiness into everyone she touched. Their son Gary became especially adept at this and carries on that tradition to this day, both inside and outside the confines of their faith.
Her skill in the kitchen led her to develop what the family eventually called her "Pie Ministry". Any newcomer to the church or the neighborhood, or anyone in need of solace, was likely to end up with one of Clara's mouth-watering, freshly baked fruit pies. Yumm! Fortunately for all, their daughter Ruth picked right up on this gift, along with Clara's love of music, and can whip up a little slice of "pie heaven" at a moment's notice or rousing song on the organ or piano that can get anyone, Christian soldier or not, tapping their foot if not up and marching!
Declines in Harvey's health eventually brought the two of them to relocate from the Midwest to Anacortes in 1982. Harvey's passing in 2001 left Clara to manage in her own home until she finally decided to accept the invitation of Ruth and her husband Mark to move into their home in a suite already planned for her.
Despite the infirmities that progressed and frustrated her desire to be "useful", Clara continued to manifest what became her greatest gift of all: the gift of never ending gratitude. A cool and rainy day could prompt a comment on how green it made the trees and plants, and how beautiful the flowers. Those very infirmities would prompt thanks for the care she was being given and the love being endlessly recycled. Thank you, Clara, for all you've given, freely and with selfless love.
Clara is survived by her son, Gary, his wife Sally, grandchildren Brooke and son-in law Joseph Hartnett, and the great grand-children ("The Triplets"): Elliana, Isabelle, and Joey; grandson Brady Venema and his wife Dawn, and their children: Drake and Eden. daughter Ruth and son-in-law Mark Backlund have two of Clara's grandchildren: Brandon and his partner Morgan, and Brianna and her partner, Scott Mathews, and their children, Blake and newly born Clara (the second!)
Memorials may be made to any of the following:
Anacortes Lutheran Church,
Afton Trinity Lutheran Church in Marshall County, Kansas,
or
Friends of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands.
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands.
The Hanover (KS) News/September 23, 2016/pg 3
During her first year beautifying the ladies and a few brave men, she met Pastor Harvey H. Bernhardt, also a product of down-to-earth Kansas Russian-Americans. The courtship was successful, as were so many endeavors Harvey pursued, and they were married April 19th, 1939. They set up housekeeping in Marysville, KS, and their first child, Gary, was born on July 16th, 1941. Over the next 2 decades, Harvey was "called" to a series of churches throughout Kansas, Nebraska, and finally Missouri. He developed a reputation as a healer of congregations having difficulties and a builder of new churches, and with Clara at his side, they served congregations in Linn, KS; Wisner, NE; Washington, KS; and then Rockport, MO. Harvey and Clara orchestrated the construction of new churches and parsonages in both Washington, and in Rockport.
Meanwhile, their daughter, Ruth Ann, was born in O'Dell, NE, on July 24th, 1947. Shepherding their flock of parishioners led this foursome into a life of music, of youth basketball and baseball, of soothing the ill, the anguished, and the lost, of leading by example, and developed in Clara her love of "visitation". Clara's gift became the desire and ability to connect with others, listen with depth and compassion, learn their life histories, and bring a measure of joy and happiness into everyone she touched. Their son Gary became especially adept at this and carries on that tradition to this day, both inside and outside the confines of their faith.
Her skill in the kitchen led her to develop what the family eventually called her "Pie Ministry". Any newcomer to the church or the neighborhood, or anyone in need of solace, was likely to end up with one of Clara's mouth-watering, freshly baked fruit pies. Yumm! Fortunately for all, their daughter Ruth picked right up on this gift, along with Clara's love of music, and can whip up a little slice of "pie heaven" at a moment's notice or rousing song on the organ or piano that can get anyone, Christian soldier or not, tapping their foot if not up and marching!
Declines in Harvey's health eventually brought the two of them to relocate from the Midwest to Anacortes in 1982. Harvey's passing in 2001 left Clara to manage in her own home until she finally decided to accept the invitation of Ruth and her husband Mark to move into their home in a suite already planned for her.
Despite the infirmities that progressed and frustrated her desire to be "useful", Clara continued to manifest what became her greatest gift of all: the gift of never ending gratitude. A cool and rainy day could prompt a comment on how green it made the trees and plants, and how beautiful the flowers. Those very infirmities would prompt thanks for the care she was being given and the love being endlessly recycled. Thank you, Clara, for all you've given, freely and with selfless love.
Clara is survived by her son, Gary, his wife Sally, grandchildren Brooke and son-in law Joseph Hartnett, and the great grand-children ("The Triplets"): Elliana, Isabelle, and Joey; grandson Brady Venema and his wife Dawn, and their children: Drake and Eden. daughter Ruth and son-in-law Mark Backlund have two of Clara's grandchildren: Brandon and his partner Morgan, and Brianna and her partner, Scott Mathews, and their children, Blake and newly born Clara (the second!)
Memorials may be made to any of the following:
Anacortes Lutheran Church,
Afton Trinity Lutheran Church in Marshall County, Kansas,
or
Friends of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands.
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands.
The Hanover (KS) News/September 23, 2016/pg 3
Clara Caroline Johanna Blanke Bernhardt, 103, of Anacortes, WA, passed away in her home on August 27th, 2016. Clara was born in Bremen, Kansas. She was the 7th of the 8 children of Dietrich and Sophia Gleue Blanke and absorbed the German-American pragmatism, humility, and deep Lutheran faith so abundant in that part of the Midwest. Besides an abiding work ethic, Clara developed a love of beauty, whether it be of nature, of intricate stitchery, or of any job well done. Combining this with the urge to make her own way, she pursued training at the "Venus Beauty Academy" in Wichita, KS, and then opened her own hair salon, "The Vogue", in Scandia, KS.
During her first year beautifying the ladies and a few brave men, she met Pastor Harvey H. Bernhardt, also a product of down-to-earth Kansas Russian-Americans. The courtship was successful, as were so many endeavors Harvey pursued, and they were married April 19th, 1939. They set up housekeeping in Marysville, KS, and their first child, Gary, was born on July 16th, 1941. Over the next 2 decades, Harvey was "called" to a series of churches throughout Kansas, Nebraska, and finally Missouri. He developed a reputation as a healer of congregations having difficulties and a builder of new churches, and with Clara at his side, they served congregations in Linn, KS; Wisner, NE; Washington, KS; and then Rockport, MO. Harvey and Clara orchestrated the construction of new churches and parsonages in both Washington, and in Rockport.
Meanwhile, their daughter, Ruth Ann, was born in O'Dell, NE, on July 24th, 1947. Shepherding their flock of parishioners led this foursome into a life of music, of youth basketball and baseball, of soothing the ill, the anguished, and the lost, of leading by example, and developed in Clara her love of "visitation". Clara's gift became the desire and ability to connect with others, listen with depth and compassion, learn their life histories, and bring a measure of joy and happiness into everyone she touched. Their son Gary became especially adept at this and carries on that tradition to this day, both inside and outside the confines of their faith.
Her skill in the kitchen led her to develop what the family eventually called her "Pie Ministry". Any newcomer to the church or the neighborhood, or anyone in need of solace, was likely to end up with one of Clara's mouth-watering, freshly baked fruit pies. Yumm! Fortunately for all, their daughter Ruth picked right up on this gift, along with Clara's love of music, and can whip up a little slice of "pie heaven" at a moment's notice or rousing song on the organ or piano that can get anyone, Christian soldier or not, tapping their foot if not up and marching!
Declines in Harvey's health eventually brought the two of them to relocate from the Midwest to Anacortes in 1982. Harvey's passing in 2001 left Clara to manage in her own home until she finally decided to accept the invitation of Ruth and her husband Mark to move into their home in a suite already planned for her.
Despite the infirmities that progressed and frustrated her desire to be "useful", Clara continued to manifest what became her greatest gift of all: the gift of never ending gratitude. A cool and rainy day could prompt a comment on how green it made the trees and plants, and how beautiful the flowers. Those very infirmities would prompt thanks for the care she was being given and the love being endlessly recycled. Thank you, Clara, for all you've given, freely and with selfless love.
Clara is survived by her son, Gary, his wife Sally, grandchildren Brooke and son-in law Joseph Hartnett, and the great grand-children ("The Triplets"): Elliana, Isabelle, and Joey; grandson Brady Venema and his wife Dawn, and their children: Drake and Eden. daughter Ruth and son-in-law Mark Backlund have two of Clara's grandchildren: Brandon and his partner Morgan, and Brianna and her partner, Scott Mathews, and their children, Blake and newly born Clara (the second!)
Memorials may be made to any of the following:
Anacortes Lutheran Church,
Afton Trinity Lutheran Church in Marshall County, Kansas,
or
Friends of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands.
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands.
The Hanover (KS) News/September 23, 2016/pg 3
During her first year beautifying the ladies and a few brave men, she met Pastor Harvey H. Bernhardt, also a product of down-to-earth Kansas Russian-Americans. The courtship was successful, as were so many endeavors Harvey pursued, and they were married April 19th, 1939. They set up housekeeping in Marysville, KS, and their first child, Gary, was born on July 16th, 1941. Over the next 2 decades, Harvey was "called" to a series of churches throughout Kansas, Nebraska, and finally Missouri. He developed a reputation as a healer of congregations having difficulties and a builder of new churches, and with Clara at his side, they served congregations in Linn, KS; Wisner, NE; Washington, KS; and then Rockport, MO. Harvey and Clara orchestrated the construction of new churches and parsonages in both Washington, and in Rockport.
Meanwhile, their daughter, Ruth Ann, was born in O'Dell, NE, on July 24th, 1947. Shepherding their flock of parishioners led this foursome into a life of music, of youth basketball and baseball, of soothing the ill, the anguished, and the lost, of leading by example, and developed in Clara her love of "visitation". Clara's gift became the desire and ability to connect with others, listen with depth and compassion, learn their life histories, and bring a measure of joy and happiness into everyone she touched. Their son Gary became especially adept at this and carries on that tradition to this day, both inside and outside the confines of their faith.
Her skill in the kitchen led her to develop what the family eventually called her "Pie Ministry". Any newcomer to the church or the neighborhood, or anyone in need of solace, was likely to end up with one of Clara's mouth-watering, freshly baked fruit pies. Yumm! Fortunately for all, their daughter Ruth picked right up on this gift, along with Clara's love of music, and can whip up a little slice of "pie heaven" at a moment's notice or rousing song on the organ or piano that can get anyone, Christian soldier or not, tapping their foot if not up and marching!
Declines in Harvey's health eventually brought the two of them to relocate from the Midwest to Anacortes in 1982. Harvey's passing in 2001 left Clara to manage in her own home until she finally decided to accept the invitation of Ruth and her husband Mark to move into their home in a suite already planned for her.
Despite the infirmities that progressed and frustrated her desire to be "useful", Clara continued to manifest what became her greatest gift of all: the gift of never ending gratitude. A cool and rainy day could prompt a comment on how green it made the trees and plants, and how beautiful the flowers. Those very infirmities would prompt thanks for the care she was being given and the love being endlessly recycled. Thank you, Clara, for all you've given, freely and with selfless love.
Clara is survived by her son, Gary, his wife Sally, grandchildren Brooke and son-in law Joseph Hartnett, and the great grand-children ("The Triplets"): Elliana, Isabelle, and Joey; grandson Brady Venema and his wife Dawn, and their children: Drake and Eden. daughter Ruth and son-in-law Mark Backlund have two of Clara's grandchildren: Brandon and his partner Morgan, and Brianna and her partner, Scott Mathews, and their children, Blake and newly born Clara (the second!)
Memorials may be made to any of the following:
Anacortes Lutheran Church,
Afton Trinity Lutheran Church in Marshall County, Kansas,
or
Friends of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands.
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands.
The Hanover (KS) News/September 23, 2016/pg 3
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