John Bernard

John Bernard ANCHORAGE, AK--John Bernard Jr., 78, of Anchorage, Alaska, died of kidney failure Dec. 19, 2002, at Elmendorf hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. Mr. Bernard was born June 14, 1924, in Iron Mountain, Mich. He completed the 11th grade before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1943. He served as a radioman and gunner in bombers during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1947. His awards include the Purple Heart. In 1956, he moved to Alaska. Mr. Bernard owned the Driftwood Supperclub and Penguin Club in the 1960s. During that time, he also built homes in Anchorage. In the late 1960s and 1970s, he designed and built a chain of steakhouses in Anchorage and Fairbanks including Black Angus Steak House, House of Prime Rib, Black Angus Meat Market and The Porterhouse. He also owned and operated a wholesale meat and seafood business in Anchorage and fishing guide service at Lake Iliamna. Mr. Bernard lectured on entrepreneurship at the University of Alaska Anchorage during the 1970s. For years, he sponsored Anchorage little league baseball teams. He and his employees sent Christmas gifts to Alaska Native children in villages. Santa Claus would deliver presents in his airplane. He also sponsored a trip to Disneyland for five children from villages who achieved top academic scores. Mr. Bernard was a lifelong member of the Elks, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member and ardent supporter of the Alaska Culinary Union. He loved fishing at Lake Iliamna and Alexander Creek, storytelling and watching football. He was preceded in death by his mother, Tona Bernard; father, John Bernard; son, Mark Bernard; wife, Azell Bernard; and brothers, Josh Bernard and Claude Bernard. His family wrote: "Dad was an energetic, colorful and passionate man with a wide variety of interests. He loved Alaska and brought a lot of revenue to the state, providing many jobs. He was dearly loved and will be so very missed." Mr. Bernard is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Tona and Ron Greisen; sons, Claudie Bernard, John Bernard III, Josh Bernard, Kevin Bernard and Frank Bernard; and many grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2002 from 11:00am until 1:00pm at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm Saturday at the funeral home. Msgr. James Kaczmarek will officiate. Burial will be in Iron Mountain Cemetery Park. Memorial donations may be sent to Covenant House Alaska, 609 F St., Anchorage 99501; or to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 101459, Anchorage 99510-1459. Condolences may be expressed to the Bernard family online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.

John Bernard

December 24, 2003