CLEAR LAKE, MN
Bernie passed away on Tuesday, November 24th, 2020, at the age of 72.
He was an Ironworker with Local 512 by trade, working on many large MN projects, including the IDS Tower in Minneapolis and the Power Plant in Becker. During the 1980s-1990s, he also owned and operated the Chapparal Bar in Merrifield and was a member of the Crow Wing Mounted Patrol. Bernie moved to Clear Lake where he started Groundskeeper Lawn Care and began building docks in 1994. He retired from Local 512 to concentrate on dock building and in 2005 moved his company, Walks On Water, Inc., to its present location on Highway 10. Bernie retired from his beloved company in 2017. He was a consummate salesman and over the years turned many of his drop-by customers into lifelong friends. He always had a smile, a joke and a hunting story to tell and never tired of sharing them. Bernie was an avid sportsman and sponsor of many local, state and national organizations promoting the management of wildlife and its habitat.
Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, Shirley (Fenske) and Bernard Bermel Sr, brothers-in-law Ken Treptau and Duane Poliwoda, niece Michelle Bermel and great-nephew Casey Krogstad.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Deborah, children Brett (Stephanie) Bermel, Bridget Northway, Bethany (Nick) Orton, Dan (Cindy) Wandersee and Jim (Megan) Wandersee, grandchildren Caleb and Chloe Bermel, Betty, Antje and Audrey Northway, Ryan and Alex Dunlap, Joselyn, Ty, Carter and Gage Orton, Jack and Alayna Wandersee and Violet, Lillian and Crosby Wandersee, brothers Gary (Chris) Bermel and Robert (Tam) Bermel, sisters Patty Treptau, Regina (Dan) Dykhoff, Mary (Doug) May and Jackie (Mark) Trushenski, brother-in-law Ken (Cindy) Poliwoda, sister-in-law Carol Poliwoda and father-in-law Harry Poliwoda, as well as many other family and friends.
No services will be held at the present time. A Celebration of Life will be planned for 2021.
Bernie was, and will remain, much loved and he will be greatly missed by those of us who have shared his life, his laughter and his love.
