Melvin Lee BERNARD, DO

BERNARD, LEWIS, SACK, WIEBERSCH, COLGAN, STEVENSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:04

January 16, 1923 ---- November 1, 2017

Dr. Melvin L. "Bud" Bernard, 94, of Maquoketa, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday morning, November 1, 2017, at Clover Ridge Place in Maquoketa. A celebration of his life is pending and will be announced in the spring of 2018. The service will be at the United Methodist Church with burial following at the Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa. The Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa is caring for the family.

Melvin Lee Bernard was born on January 16, 1923 in Eagle Grove, Iowa, to George H. and Mary Estella (Lewis) Bernard. He lived on the family farm until his graduation from Eagle Grove High School in 1941. He then attended Eagle Grove Junior College and Iowa State University. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army and was called to service in February of 1943 serving in the 2208 Trucking Company and the 1585 Trucking Battalion in the European Theater during World War II. Upon receiving an honorable discharge in December of 1945 he returned to Eagle Grove. In February of 1946, he boarded a train in Webster City, Iowa that was bound for Chicago bringing with him one small suitcase. His goal was to convince the president of the Illinois College of Optometry that they wanted him as a student. Within one week of that meeting he began his education.

During this time, he met Marilyn Ruth Sack at a dance. They were married on February 20, 1948 in Chicago, IL. Bud and Marilyn were married for 61 years and have two children; Donna (Keith) Wiebersch and Gary (Barbara) Bernard.

In 1949 they moved to Maquoketa where he opened his optometric practice. After 45 years he semi-retired and sold his practice to Dr. David Sybesma. He continued his practice of optometry until 2000 when he fully retired.

Dr. Bernard was a member of the American Optometric Association, Iowa Optometric Association, College of Vision Development and fellow member of the American Academy of Optometry. He made nine trips to Mexico as a member of the Iowa Chapter of Vosh. Locally, he was a member of Rotary where he served as the 20th president of the club. He was also a member of the V.F.W., American Legion, Izaak Walton, Knights of Pythias, Ducks Unlimited and the Chamber of Commerce. He was also involved in the group that brought the industrial site to Maquoketa. Bud was an active member of the United Methodist Church where he also served on the board during the time the church was built on Wesley Drive.

Throughout his life he enjoyed both participating in and watching all sports. He was especially proud and fond of watching his grandchildren in all of their activities. Bud also enjoyed watching the Iowa State Cyclones as well as the Iowa Hawkeyes. His personal hobbies included golfing, hunting, fishing, reading and traveling worldwide with Marilyn.

Bud is survived by his children, Donna (Keith) Wiebersch of Dubuque, IA, and Gary (Barbara) Bernard of Galena, IL; 4 grandchildren, Katelin Wiebersch of Dubuque, IA, Matthew Wiebersch of Chicago, IL, Ellen (Kyle) Colgan of St. Charles, MO, and Samuel Bernard of Des Moines, IA; two brothers, Kenneth (Shirley) Bernard of Minnetonka, MN, and Jerald (Laurene) Bernard of Cedar Falls, IA; a sister-in-law, Ruth Bernard of Cedar Falls, IA; and a brother-in-law Jim Stevenson of Scottsdale, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Russell, a sister, Eileen, and his wife Marilyn on November 5, 2009.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Jake Bickford and Chuck Farnum for their special friendship and to all of the personnel at Clover Ridge Place and Hospice of Jackson County for their exceptional care. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a Dr. Melvin L. "Bud" Bernard memorial fund has been established.

http://www.carsonandson.com/obituary/222214/Dr-Melvin-Bernard/