Bernard F. Brown, 89, passed away peacefully Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at Presbyterian Manor of the Plains, Dodge City.
He was born May 20, 1931, at Ellis, Kansas, the son of Frank P. and Catherine (Schoenberger) Brown. He was a graduate of Ellis High School and received his Masters Degree from Fort Hays State University. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He was the only one in his family to graduate college and taught school at Weskan, Palco, Great Bend, Dodge City and Deerfield as well as being the Director of Facilities at St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City. They moved to Dodge City in 1969, moving to Deerfield in 1982, then Lakin, and returning to Dodge City in the early 1990s.
He was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 4th Degree member of Knights of Columbus Council 2955, VFW Post 1714 and American Legion Post 47 all in Dodge City. He was also a member of Right to Life of Kansas and American Life League.
On December 1, 1952, he married Norma Ruder at Hays.
Survivors include: his wife of 68 years, Norma; 4 daughters, Joyce Renick and husband Bruce, Ingalls, Brenda Ackerman and husband David, Dodge City, Julie Durler and husband Kevin, Wright and Bonnie Bernbeck and husband Duane, Garden City; daughter-in-law, Renette Brown, Sedalia, Missouri; 9 grandchildren, Jasmine Strecker and husband Jason, Mark Durler and wife Lindsey, Tyler Durler, Nikki Durler and husband Chris Alexander, Ryan Ackerman and fiancée Alex Mootz, Randy Ackerman, Andrea Smith, Erica Durler and Denton Durler; and 8 great grandchildren with 1 due in September.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sons, Terry and James Brown, 5 brothers, Celestine, Vincent, John, Leonard and William Brown and 7 sisters, Mary Brown, Barbara Brungardt, Theresa Wallert, Vera Allen, Frances Weaver, Agnes Rohr and Anna VonFeldt.
Vigil service followed by Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 7:00 pm Sunday, February 28, 2021 at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City. Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 am Monday, March 1, 2021 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe with Fr. Ted Skalsky presiding. Burial will follow in the Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Ft. Dodge with full military honors by Howard Gotschall VFW Post 1714 and the United States Navy. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral Chapel.
The family suggests memorials to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.