The family of Ernest Louis Berns honor their beloved father, born in 1931 in Holland, Michigan to Ernest Joseph and Beatrice Viola (Giroux) Berns. Ernest "Ernie", 91, passed away April 12, 2023.
Ernie lived in Michigan with his parents and two younger brothers, Robert and Joseph, until his teen years when the family moved to Chebanse, Illinois. In high school Ernie contracted polio and lived in a hospital ward for part of the school year. This did not slow him down though, as anyone who knows Ernie, knows he is an active and service-oriented kind of guy. In high school he was president and treasurer of his sophomore class, a weekly reporter for the Kankakee Daily Journal, played leading parts in two school plays, and was manager for the high school baseball and basketball squads. Ernie would brag that he played high school basketball, center and guard positions, adding that he sat in the center of the bench and guarded the water bucket! He graduated from Chebanse High School in 1950.
After high school, Ernie worked for Roper/Florence Stove Company, followed by Armour Pharmaceutical Company, where he met his future bride.
Ernie and Marie Lanoue married on November 10th,1956 in Kankakee, Illinois and journeyed on to welcome and raise nine children and were blessed to celebrate 63 years of marriage.
In 1989, Ernie and Marie along with their youngest child, Andrea, relocated from Illinois to sunny Arizona, where other children and grandchildren were flourishing. From the beginning, Ernie felt living in Arizona was like being on vacation. They went to great lengths to visit as many sites as possible in Arizona and the west coast, with a highlight being their travels along the California Missions Trail. Ernie worked in sales for Lawson Products for over 50 years starting off in a region in Illinois and later in Arizona. He continued his work with Lawson until his retirement at age 80.
Ernie dedicated his life to his family and work. He was well known for his storytelling and sense of humor that he enjoyed sharing with all. Along with his sense of humor, Ernie is probably best known for his generosity in gift and service. He went to great lengths to help others, offering his time, energy, and how-to advice. He would bake cakes for his grandchildren's birthdays, deliver lemons to friends and clients, and find little gifts and treasures to give for every occasion, and sometimes for no occasion at all. He and Marie also assisted elderly people to Mass on Sundays for many years. Ernie's Catholic faith and country were especially near to his heart. For the last several years he watched daily mass, recited the rosary, and had a strong devotion to the Divine Mercy chaplet included in his daily routine. For over 30 years, Ernie and Marie created a cherished family keepsake of Christmas albums and would gift their children annual "Christmas pages" to add to the albums' collection of favorite poems, songs, stories, photos, recipes, & family news from the year. After the passing of Marie, as his last contribution to the Christmas pages, Ernie chose The Divine Mercy image to grace the cover, with the greatest hope of our Lord indeed "covering" his family with His Divine Mercy.
Ernest was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Lanoue Berns; his parents, Ernest and Beatrice Berns; his two brothers, Robert Berns and Joseph Berns; a sister-in-law, Joyce Berns; and a grandson, Richard Berns.
Ernest is survived by his sister-in-law, Karen Berns; nine children, including James (Linda) Berns, Mary Pat (Mike) Raher, Julie (David) Bruggeman, Mike (Brian) Connors, Joseph Berns, Jacqueline (Mick) Berns-Carmichael, Richard (Chris) Berns, Barbara (William) Morris, and Andrea Berns; twenty-seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, with two on the way; and two great-great grandchildren.
Tempe Mortuary in Tempe, Arizona
Ernie lived in Michigan with his parents and two younger brothers, Robert and Joseph, until his teen years when the family moved to Chebanse, Illinois. In high school Ernie contracted polio and lived in a hospital ward for part of the school year. This did not slow him down though, as anyone who knows Ernie, knows he is an active and service-oriented kind of guy. In high school he was president and treasurer of his sophomore class, a weekly reporter for the Kankakee Daily Journal, played leading parts in two school plays, and was manager for the high school baseball and basketball squads. Ernie would brag that he played high school basketball, center and guard positions, adding that he sat in the center of the bench and guarded the water bucket! He graduated from Chebanse High School in 1950.
After high school, Ernie worked for Roper/Florence Stove Company, followed by Armour Pharmaceutical Company, where he met his future bride.
Ernie and Marie Lanoue married on November 10th,1956 in Kankakee, Illinois and journeyed on to welcome and raise nine children and were blessed to celebrate 63 years of marriage.
In 1989, Ernie and Marie along with their youngest child, Andrea, relocated from Illinois to sunny Arizona, where other children and grandchildren were flourishing. From the beginning, Ernie felt living in Arizona was like being on vacation. They went to great lengths to visit as many sites as possible in Arizona and the west coast, with a highlight being their travels along the California Missions Trail. Ernie worked in sales for Lawson Products for over 50 years starting off in a region in Illinois and later in Arizona. He continued his work with Lawson until his retirement at age 80.
Ernie dedicated his life to his family and work. He was well known for his storytelling and sense of humor that he enjoyed sharing with all. Along with his sense of humor, Ernie is probably best known for his generosity in gift and service. He went to great lengths to help others, offering his time, energy, and how-to advice. He would bake cakes for his grandchildren's birthdays, deliver lemons to friends and clients, and find little gifts and treasures to give for every occasion, and sometimes for no occasion at all. He and Marie also assisted elderly people to Mass on Sundays for many years. Ernie's Catholic faith and country were especially near to his heart. For the last several years he watched daily mass, recited the rosary, and had a strong devotion to the Divine Mercy chaplet included in his daily routine. For over 30 years, Ernie and Marie created a cherished family keepsake of Christmas albums and would gift their children annual "Christmas pages" to add to the albums' collection of favorite poems, songs, stories, photos, recipes, & family news from the year. After the passing of Marie, as his last contribution to the Christmas pages, Ernie chose The Divine Mercy image to grace the cover, with the greatest hope of our Lord indeed "covering" his family with His Divine Mercy.
Ernest was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Lanoue Berns; his parents, Ernest and Beatrice Berns; his two brothers, Robert Berns and Joseph Berns; a sister-in-law, Joyce Berns; and a grandson, Richard Berns.
Ernest is survived by his sister-in-law, Karen Berns; nine children, including James (Linda) Berns, Mary Pat (Mike) Raher, Julie (David) Bruggeman, Mike (Brian) Connors, Joseph Berns, Jacqueline (Mick) Berns-Carmichael, Richard (Chris) Berns, Barbara (William) Morris, and Andrea Berns; twenty-seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, with two on the way; and two great-great grandchildren.
Tempe Mortuary in Tempe, Arizona
The family of Ernest Louis Berns honor their beloved father, born in 1931 in Holland, Michigan to Ernest Joseph and Beatrice Viola (Giroux) Berns. Ernest "Ernie", 91, passed away April 12, 2023.
Ernie lived in Michigan with his parents and two younger brothers, Robert and Joseph, until his teen years when the family moved to Chebanse, Illinois. In high school Ernie contracted polio and lived in a hospital ward for part of the school year. This did not slow him down though, as anyone who knows Ernie, knows he is an active and service-oriented kind of guy. In high school he was president and treasurer of his sophomore class, a weekly reporter for the Kankakee Daily Journal, played leading parts in two school plays, and was manager for the high school baseball and basketball squads. Ernie would brag that he played high school basketball, center and guard positions, adding that he sat in the center of the bench and guarded the water bucket! He graduated from Chebanse High School in 1950.
After high school, Ernie worked for Roper/Florence Stove Company, followed by Armour Pharmaceutical Company, where he met his future bride.
Ernie and Marie Lanoue married on November 10th,1956 in Kankakee, Illinois and journeyed on to welcome and raise nine children and were blessed to celebrate 63 years of marriage.
In 1989, Ernie and Marie along with their youngest child, Andrea, relocated from Illinois to sunny Arizona, where other children and grandchildren were flourishing. From the beginning, Ernie felt living in Arizona was like being on vacation. They went to great lengths to visit as many sites as possible in Arizona and the west coast, with a highlight being their travels along the California Missions Trail. Ernie worked in sales for Lawson Products for over 50 years starting off in a region in Illinois and later in Arizona. He continued his work with Lawson until his retirement at age 80.
Ernie dedicated his life to his family and work. He was well known for his storytelling and sense of humor that he enjoyed sharing with all. Along with his sense of humor, Ernie is probably best known for his generosity in gift and service. He went to great lengths to help others, offering his time, energy, and how-to advice. He would bake cakes for his grandchildren's birthdays, deliver lemons to friends and clients, and find little gifts and treasures to give for every occasion, and sometimes for no occasion at all. He and Marie also assisted elderly people to Mass on Sundays for many years. Ernie's Catholic faith and country were especially near to his heart. For the last several years he watched daily mass, recited the rosary, and had a strong devotion to the Divine Mercy chaplet included in his daily routine. For over 30 years, Ernie and Marie created a cherished family keepsake of Christmas albums and would gift their children annual "Christmas pages" to add to the albums' collection of favorite poems, songs, stories, photos, recipes, & family news from the year. After the passing of Marie, as his last contribution to the Christmas pages, Ernie chose The Divine Mercy image to grace the cover, with the greatest hope of our Lord indeed "covering" his family with His Divine Mercy.
Ernest was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Lanoue Berns; his parents, Ernest and Beatrice Berns; his two brothers, Robert Berns and Joseph Berns; a sister-in-law, Joyce Berns; and a grandson, Richard Berns.
Ernest is survived by his sister-in-law, Karen Berns; nine children, including James (Linda) Berns, Mary Pat (Mike) Raher, Julie (David) Bruggeman, Mike (Brian) Connors, Joseph Berns, Jacqueline (Mick) Berns-Carmichael, Richard (Chris) Berns, Barbara (William) Morris, and Andrea Berns; twenty-seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, with two on the way; and two great-great grandchildren.
Tempe Mortuary in Tempe, Arizona
Ernie lived in Michigan with his parents and two younger brothers, Robert and Joseph, until his teen years when the family moved to Chebanse, Illinois. In high school Ernie contracted polio and lived in a hospital ward for part of the school year. This did not slow him down though, as anyone who knows Ernie, knows he is an active and service-oriented kind of guy. In high school he was president and treasurer of his sophomore class, a weekly reporter for the Kankakee Daily Journal, played leading parts in two school plays, and was manager for the high school baseball and basketball squads. Ernie would brag that he played high school basketball, center and guard positions, adding that he sat in the center of the bench and guarded the water bucket! He graduated from Chebanse High School in 1950.
After high school, Ernie worked for Roper/Florence Stove Company, followed by Armour Pharmaceutical Company, where he met his future bride.
Ernie and Marie Lanoue married on November 10th,1956 in Kankakee, Illinois and journeyed on to welcome and raise nine children and were blessed to celebrate 63 years of marriage.
In 1989, Ernie and Marie along with their youngest child, Andrea, relocated from Illinois to sunny Arizona, where other children and grandchildren were flourishing. From the beginning, Ernie felt living in Arizona was like being on vacation. They went to great lengths to visit as many sites as possible in Arizona and the west coast, with a highlight being their travels along the California Missions Trail. Ernie worked in sales for Lawson Products for over 50 years starting off in a region in Illinois and later in Arizona. He continued his work with Lawson until his retirement at age 80.
Ernie dedicated his life to his family and work. He was well known for his storytelling and sense of humor that he enjoyed sharing with all. Along with his sense of humor, Ernie is probably best known for his generosity in gift and service. He went to great lengths to help others, offering his time, energy, and how-to advice. He would bake cakes for his grandchildren's birthdays, deliver lemons to friends and clients, and find little gifts and treasures to give for every occasion, and sometimes for no occasion at all. He and Marie also assisted elderly people to Mass on Sundays for many years. Ernie's Catholic faith and country were especially near to his heart. For the last several years he watched daily mass, recited the rosary, and had a strong devotion to the Divine Mercy chaplet included in his daily routine. For over 30 years, Ernie and Marie created a cherished family keepsake of Christmas albums and would gift their children annual "Christmas pages" to add to the albums' collection of favorite poems, songs, stories, photos, recipes, & family news from the year. After the passing of Marie, as his last contribution to the Christmas pages, Ernie chose The Divine Mercy image to grace the cover, with the greatest hope of our Lord indeed "covering" his family with His Divine Mercy.
Ernest was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Lanoue Berns; his parents, Ernest and Beatrice Berns; his two brothers, Robert Berns and Joseph Berns; a sister-in-law, Joyce Berns; and a grandson, Richard Berns.
Ernest is survived by his sister-in-law, Karen Berns; nine children, including James (Linda) Berns, Mary Pat (Mike) Raher, Julie (David) Bruggeman, Mike (Brian) Connors, Joseph Berns, Jacqueline (Mick) Berns-Carmichael, Richard (Chris) Berns, Barbara (William) Morris, and Andrea Berns; twenty-seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, with two on the way; and two great-great grandchildren.
Tempe Mortuary in Tempe, Arizona
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