Simon, Bernard (1910-2007)

SIMON, MILLER, BYER, BAKER

Posted By: Colleen J. Ossman (email)
Date: 5/6/2009 at 14:50:08

Webster City Freeman Journal, June 6, 2007

Bernard “ Bernie “ Simon, 96, of Webster City, died Saturday, June 2, 2007 at Trinity Regional Medical Center at Fort Dodge. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, with Rev. Scott Boone presiding. Private burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and prior to the Mass on Friday at the Church. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 6:45 p.m. Thursday followed by a Scripture service at 7 p.m.

Bernard Nicholas Simon, son of Peter and Catharine Miller Simon, was born September 25, 1910 at Winona, Minnesota. He attended Winona Public Schools and Winona State College, he also attended Dunwoddy Institute at Minneapolis. On July 24, 1936, he married Dolores Barbara Byer at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at Winona. The couple resided at Owatonna, MN where he managed a Montgomery Wards Store. They moved to Boone, IA where he managed a Coast to Coast Store. In 1943, they moved to Webster City where he was agency manager for the Des Moines Register. In 1959, they moved to Owatonna and owned a grocery Store. The family moved to Webster City in 1963 when he returned to the agency manager job. For 3 years, he worked for the Freeman Journal as circulation manager. He retired but decided he needed to keep busy, so he bought a Sears Catalog Store, then later owned 3 laundromats and several apartments. When he actually retired, he kept busy repairing small appliances. They had wintered for many years in both San Antonio, Texas and Palm Coast, Florida

Bernie is survived by his wife, of 71 years, Dolores; sons and daughter-in-law, Rod Simon of Boise, ID; Don Simon and his fiancé, Phylis Burns, of Harriman, TN; Jon and Bev Simon of Owatonna; daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Nevin Baker of St. Augustine, FL; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Ginny Simon; grandson, Scott Michael Baker; brothers, Gerald and Ambrose Simon.

Bernie was a member of St. Thomas since 1943, was a life member of the Knights of Columbus, an usher for many years and also sang in the church choir. He was a former chairman of the Webster City Retail Association, belonged to many bridge clubs. He was a 61 year member of the Webster City Country Club and played golf until he was 95 years old.

Memorials may be made to St. Thomas Aquinas School.