Gene Bernard

Gene "Geno" Bernard died the morning of Sunday, November 27, 2016, in Casper, Wyoming at Central Wyoming Hospice surrounded by his family – he was a few days short of 80 years old. Born Wilmer Eugene Bernard on December 7, 1936 to William and Elsie Bernard in the living room of his grandparents' farmhouse in Oakland, Maryland. He and his late brother Lyall grew up in Glassport and McKeesport, Pennsylvania and attended McKeesport High School where Gene was warmly known as 'froggy' in reference to his stature and the eyeglasses he wore at the time. After graduating high school in 1955, Gene trained and worked as a carpenter with his father in the Pittsburgh area. In September 1956 he joined the Army and later served in Korea as a medic. After returning home Gene continued to work as a carpenter and met his future wife Doreen (May) in January 1962 at a going-away party for a mutual friend.

Gene and Doreen were married in September 1963 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and welcomed the birth of their first son, Ray Eugene, in February 1967 and their second son, Jeffrey Alan, in December 1969. In 1974 Gene moved his family to Loveland, Colorado where he continued his successful career as a custom finish-trim carpenter and enjoyed his lifelong passions of hunting and fishing. In 1978 they relocated to Casper, Wyoming, the town he would eventually call 'home'. In the years following his divorce in 1985, Gene also spent time in Las Vegas, Nevada and Boise, Idaho with his long time companion Nancy Branson.

Gene enjoyed spending time with friends and family, cooking and eating great home cooked food (the spicier the better), camping, hunting, fishing, and custom reloading rifle ammunition. While working as a carpenter and remodeling family homes, one of his delights was to befriend and collect cherished recipes from the family cook. He was often known to bring his own fresh jalapenos to a restaurant to spice up his meal.

Gene is survived by his sons Ray and Jeffrey, five grandchildren (Chelsea, Liz, Spencer, Pierce and Alastair) and two great-grandchildren (Ashton and Cameron). He was preceded in death by his father William Lyall Bernard Sr, mother Elsie Madeline Bernard and brother, William Lyall Bernard Jr.

A memorial service will be held at Newcomer Funeral Home in Casper at 710 East 2nd Street on Monday, December 12, 2016 at 1:00 pm with a reception following at the VFW of Casper at 1800 Bryan Stock Trail.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the VFW and Central Wyoming Hospice.

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