Bernard Gerald Wissink was born on May 19, 1928 to Gerrit and Bertha (Vande Weerd)
Wissink, in rural Rock Valley, Iowa.
During the Depression, when Bernie was four years old, his parents lost the farm so
they moved in with his Grandma Anna Wissink in Rock Valley.
He attended Rock Valley Public School and graduated in 1945.
After graduation, he attended Coyne Electric trade school in Chicago for one year.
Returning to Rock Valley, he helped Len Van Noort rebuild his salvage business after
Len returned from serving in World War II.
During those years, he played semi-pro baseball and was also on a semi-pro
roller-skating dance team.
In 1949, he purchased a new Ford convertible which he enjoyed driving for ten years.
He began working for Iowa Public Service Company in 1950 in Storm Lake, Iowa.
He was drafted into the Korean War in February 1951 and served stateside until February
1953. He then returned to work for IPS in Cherokee, Iowa and was later transferred to Sheldon. There he met an old skating friend, Gladys Kuiper.
On September 7, 1956, he united in marriage with Gladys, and they made their home in Sheldon. Bernie and Gladys were members of the First Reformed Church in Sheldon where he served without hesitation wherever he was needed; deacon, Sunday school teacher, and the keeper of the church sign. He always had just the right saying or quote for the sign. Bernie had a volunteer's heart and this started early on as he played Santa Claus for family and neighbors. This blossomed into something bigger as he was asked to play the role for the city which he did for 58 years. After retirement, service to his community expanded through his work with Hospice, the American Legion, the Avenue of Flags, and the Civic Music Association.
In the American Legion, he served as Local Post #145 Commander for many years, 9th District Commander for two terms, Department Vice Commander, and served on many different department committees. One of the projects he was most proud of during his time as Post Commander, was the replacement of the old Veterans Memorial with the new Sheldon Veterans Memorial in the City Park.
While all of this was important to him, nothing compared to time spent with Gladys and his children. Many special memories were made camping, hunting, fishing, and on road trips to Colorado. In later years, he cherished his time pheasant hunting with his sons and any time spent with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gladys passed away on March 8, 2002, and he has cherished her memory every day since. Bernie went to meet his Lord and Savior on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at Sanford Sheldon Medical Center surrounded by loving family members.
Bernie was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys Wissink; his parents; an infant son, Gerald Wissink; a grandson, Brian Wissink; and sisters Marian Engel and Jane VandeStouwe.
Eldridge Family Funeral Home
Sheldon, Iowa