Lester Bernu

Funeral service for Lester R. Bernu, 87, of Biwabik, will be 11am Monday, October 21, 2013 at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert with Pastor Brenda Tibbetts, AIM officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Military honors will be accorded by the Gilbert VFW Post in the Biwabik Township Cemetery. Lester died Thursday, October 17, 2013 at Essentia Health - Duluth, MN. He was born June 5, 1926 in Heino, MN to Jalmer and Fanny (Fracki) Bernu. Following his schooling, he served in the US Army during WWII. Lester served in Europe the Battle of the Bulge. On April 7, 1945 he was wounded in action at Wesser River, Germany and received the Purple Heart. On August 22, 1948 he married Lena Olson. In 1952 he began working for the Schley Mine, later for the McKinley Mine. He worked at J&L Mining Company as a millwright and retired from there in the 1980's as a maintenance foreman. Lester was a member of the Steelworkers Union and served as little league coach and constable for Biwabik Township. Survivors include his children: Ronald (Jean) Bernu of rural Gilbert, Jalmer (Jodi) Bernu of Badger, MN and Marie (Bill) Murray of Safety Harbor, FL; grandchildren: Charles, Jennifer, Amanda, Tina, Amy, Heather, Natasha, Clinton and Matthew; several great grandchildren; son-in-law, Danny Robertson of Mississippi; sister, Vida Aiken of Kansas; brother, Harold Bernu of New York Mills, MN; several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lena; daughter, Brenda Robertson; grandson, Christopher Robertson; brothers and sisters.