Bernard Nicholas Sanders passed away with family present on Monday, July 15th, 2013 in the care of Unity Hospice. He was born on May 9th, 1918, in De Pere, WI to the late Louis and Theresa (Golueke) Sanders. He attended St. Boniface Grade School and graduated from St. Norbert High School in 1937. His first job was at Rupiper Studebaker on Main Street in De Pere.
After serving in the US Army from 1942-1946, Bernard moved to Pasadena, CA, where he was the service manager at the Richfield Oil Service Garage and studied mechanical drafting at Pasadena City College. Following his studies, he worked for Aerojet and Day & Night Engineering.
Bernard married Elvera A. Thalmann on December 26, 1954 at the San Gabriel Mission in California. They moved back to De Pere, where he worked in engineering and scheduling for Paper Converting Machine Company until retiring in 1982. He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in De Pere.
Bernard is survived by sons David (Carrie) of Greenfield, WI, B. Wayne of Tuttlingen, Germany, and Mike (Julie) of Ottertail, MN, grandchildren Erica (Daniel) Cross of Madison, WI, Ben (Esther) Sanders of Austin, TX, Valerie Sanders of Greenfield, WI, and Ida and Vera Sanders of Tuttlingen, Germany, brothers-in-law Victor (Jackie) Thalmann of Grand Junction, CO and Roland (LaVey) Thalmann of Ottertail, MN, sister-in-law Janice Thalmann of Henning, MN, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Bernard was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brothers Charles (Gwen) Sanders and Mark (Henrietta) Sanders, sisters Anna (Leo) Reinhard, Sr. M. Ruth Sanders, and Sr. M. Monica Sanders, parents-in-law Herman and Eleanora (Grefe) Thalmann, sister-in-law Elaine (Len) Cloutier, and brother-in-law Loren Thalmann.
Family and friends may call from 8:30 to 10:30am Saturday July 27th, 2013 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Family, 1305 Lourdes Ave. De Pere, WI. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am at the church with Father Tim Schillcox, O. Praem, officiating and Frater Mike Brennan, O. Praem, and Deacon Mike Vander Bloomen assisting. Entombment in Allouez Mausoleum will follow later in the day. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the Sanders family. RYAN FUNERAL HOME is assisting the family.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a memorial fund has been established for Unity Hospice.
The family would like to thank the staff of Unity Hospice and dear friend and caregiver Bev for the special care they showed our parents.