BRYANT, Bernard Eugene "Bunny"

BRYANT, BARTON, MCELREATH, JOHNSON, SMITH, WALLACE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 9/21/2016 at 13:00:42

Obituary ~ Bernard Eugene "Bunny" Bryant
September 23, 1926 ~ April 28, 2005

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
April 30, 2005

MASON CITY — Bernard 'Bunny' Eugene Bryant, 78, of 912 N. Harrison, died Thursday (April 28, 2005) at Good Shepherd Health Care Center in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Grace United Methodist Church, 200 14th St. N.W., Mason City, with the Rev. Sarah Odoom officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Highway 122 West, Mason City, with military honors by members of the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City, and will continue one hour prior to service time on Tuesday at the church.

Bernard 'Bunny' Eugene Bryant was born on Sept. 23, 1926, in Vernon, Texas, the son of Lemuel Bruce and Hester (Barton) Bryant. He attended school in Vernon, Texas, and graduated from high school in Hobart, Okla.

He was inducted into the United States Navy on Jan. 13, 1944, in Norman, Okla., and was stationed on the USS Argonne, USS Hamul, and the USS APL 28 during World War II, and was awarded the Victory Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, 1 star and the Philippine Liberation Campaign Ribbon, and was honorably discharged on May 1, 1946, in Norman, Okla.

After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he returned to Hobart, Okla., and was united in marriage to Leta McElreath on Aug. 17, 1947, in Hobart, Okla.

After their marriage, he worked in the oil fields in Shepherd Field, Texas, before moving back to Hobart, Okla., and continued to work in the oil fields.

Bernard and his family moved to Bradshaw, Neb., where he started Bryant Construction, building storage bins for grain and steel buildings. Bernard began working for Nebraska Engineering as a salesman, moving to Ventura and selling grain bins in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin until his retirement. After his retirement, he worked for Standard Oil Gas Station in Clear Lake.

Bernard loved to play golf in Clear Lake, was a sports enthusiast and especially loved the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, but his great love and enjoyment were his grandchildren and being involved in their activities. He also loved taking care of his dog, Annie.

Bernard was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Bernard loved his church and was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Mason City.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Leta Bryant of Mason City; daughter, Cyndi and her husband, Jeff Johnson, of Mason City; son, Jack Bryant of Norfolk, Va.; two grandchildren: Justin and Cristin Johnson, both of Mason City; brother, Travis Bryant and his wife, Sue, of Wichita, Kan.; sister, Glenda Ann Smith of Chino Hills, Calif.; two brothers-in-law: Harold and W.J. McElreath, both of Hobart, Okla.; and many nieces and nephews, as well as other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Bruce Bryant and a sister, Mary Lou Wallace.

Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, (641) 423-2372. www.colonialchapels.com

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2016