Arthur C. “Art” Bernhardt
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Saturday, December 29, 2007 9:10 PM CST
Arthur C. “Art” Bernhardt, beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend passed from this life to eternal life on Dec. 20, 2007, embraced by the love of his family. His passing marked the end of a valiant and courageous, six year battle with cancer. His fight against cancer was an inspiration to all who knew him.
Art was born in Wisconsin Rapids on Sept. 21, 1952, and grew up in Port Edwards. After graduation from Port Edwards High School, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a B.S. degree in 1974, majoring in botany.
In 1975, he began his career working for the Department of Natural Resources as a Wildlife Research Biologist at Sandhill Wildlife area. In 1976, he moved to Rhinelander with the DNR, and then to the Eau Claire DNR office in 1977, where he remained until illness forced him to retire in 2003. From 1996 until retirement, he served as the West Central Region Water Leader. He loved his work, his co-workers and the “water team,” and took much satisfaction in helping to conserve and enhance the environment. He was admired for his leadership, problem solving ability, dedication, innovation, professionalism and competence. He was known for his “Attitude is Everything” philosophy as proclaimed by a sign by his office door. His “can do” attitude was contagious.
Art wove his passion for the outdoors and nature into both his personal and his professional life. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, sailor, windsurfer, downhill, cross-country and water skier, canoeist, camper, hiker, musician, gardener, skater, skate-sailor and beachcomber. It seems like there was nothing he couldn’t do, and he did it all well. He loved the fall and the bird hunting opportunities that it brought. He had many fond memories of hunting with friends in Wisconsin, Saskatchewan, Iowa and the Dakotas.
In 1976, while working for the DNR in Rhinelander, he met fellow DNR employee and future wife, Barbara MacNaughton. They worked, canoed, kayaked, hiked, cross-country skied and explored the Northwoods. They were married Sept. 18, 1982 in Green Bay. Together they built a home on Lake Wissota where they raised their daughter, Whitney Ann and son, Arthur Cameron. In addition to being friends for 31 years, Art and Barb were blessed to be able to celebrate their 25th anniversary and Art’s 55th birthday in September.
Art loved nothing more than spending time with his family, enjoying the natural world-from his backyard on Lake Wissota, including fishing, swimming, boating, sailing, windsurfing, skating, skate-sailing, skiing, pulling tubers and water skiers to time spent with family at Trout Lake, N.H., Sanibel Island and St. George Island, Fla. and Waupaca’s Chain of Lakes to wilderness canoeing in the Boundary Waters and Quetico.
There was no greater dad than “Big Daddy Bernhardt.” He participated in all of Whitney and Arthur’s activities, from coaching Arthur’s t-ball teams, to being his Cub Scout leader, to helping both Whitney and Arthur with their piano, saxophone and trumpet lessons, to being the biggest fan and cheerleader to Whitney in high school and college soccer, high school gymnastics and cross-country, and to Arthur in high school soccer and tennis, Destination Imagination competition and collegiate Ultimate Frisbee tournaments. He enjoyed watching both perform in the Chi-Hi bands.
His wife Barb was his best friend, steadfast advocate and constant caregiver and companion. Barb’s determination to “love him into living” never flagged. They shared their love of each other, nature and the environment to the end.
Heeding his own advice, over the past six years he remained positive, trying non-traditional, as well as traditional methods of healing, holding onto hope and keeping faith that he could beat this disease. His faith in God sustained him, and he wasn’t afraid to die, as he knew he would have everlasting life. As he and his family faced the challenges of cancer he (as those who knew him might have expected) became a champion to end cancer for himself and others. While he was able, he participated in the Chippewa Falls Relay for Life, raising more than a total of $35,000 as the top fund-raiser three years in a row.
Even as he was struggling with his illness, Art never tired of watching the seasons come and go from his window on Lake Wissota, wondering when “ice on” and “ice out” would occur each year, when and how many loons would migrate through, when the migrating songbirds would arrive spring and fall, or if he’d see an otter on the dock again. Early ice this year afforded a view of bald eagles fishing at the ice edge. He enjoyed the animals that frequented the feeders in his yards, even the pileated woodpeckers that hammered the cedar siding-in spite of the many suit feeders. His love of nature continued through his last days.
Art will be deeply missed by his beloved wife and best friend, Barbara MacNaughton-Bernhardt and cherished children, Whitney Ann and Arthur Cameron. His loss is shared by his parents, Arthur A. and Harriet Bernhardt, sisters, Susan (Al) Dyon , Elizabeth (Ted Swiecki), and Barbara, and his brother, Eric (Karen Smith). He also leaves three nephews, Andy, Ben and Alex and a niece, Frances. He is further missed by his in-laws, Barbara and Don MacNaughton, sisters-in-law Nancy Carmer (Dewitt), Jennie (John) Bourguignon, brother-in-law Duncan (Cindy) MacNaughton, and nieces Ainslee and Taylor MacNaughton, Emily and Katie Bourguignon, and nephews Riley and Jesse Carmer.
There will be a memorial service to celebrate Art’s life at noon on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church in Chippewa Falls, Pastor Barry Boyer officiating. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service.
At Art’s suggestion, the family will distribute memorials to the First Presbyterian Church of Chippewa Falls and Lake Wissota State Park, places that gave him comfort, solace and joy through the years.
The Cremation Society Of Wisconsin is serving the family.
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