Memorials › Bernard J "Bernie" Schad

Bernard J "Bernie" Schad

30 Sep 1931 – 5 Dec 2011

Birth30 Sep 1931
Death5 Dec 2011
CemeterySaint Marys Cemetery
Melrose , Stearns County , Minnesota , USA
Added byQuincy Stroeing on 06 Dec 2011
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81635679

Bio

Bernie Schad - 80 years Melrose, Minn Bernard J. "Bernie" Schad, age 80 of Melrose, died unexpectedly following a massive heart attack Monday, December 5, 2011 at the Melrose Area Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 10 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. Rev. Marvin Enneking will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday and 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Bernie Schad was born September 30, 1931 in Rochester, Minnesota to Christian and Catherine (Schneider) Schad. He grew up on a farm near Plainview, Minn along with his 10 siblings. Bernie was a 1949 graduate of Plainview High School. He served in the U.S. Army and then attended St. Cloud State University, where he met Mary Lano. On September 27, 1958, just three days before his 27th birthday, Bernard Schad married Miss Mary Lano at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Annandale, Minnesota. The couple resided in Maple Lake and he worked and attended college. He commuted to the University of Minnesota for his senior year and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mortuary Science. He began work as a funeral director at Werness Brothers Funeral Home in south Minneapolis and then Evans-Nordby Funeral Home in Osseo. In 1966 they moved to Melrose and he began serving the community and surrounding areas as their funeral director. He later expanded Schad Funeral Homes to include the funeral homes in Grey Eagle, Sauk Centre, and Freeport. In 1993 the funeral homes were sold to Pat and Sue Patton of Sauk Centre and Bernie continued to work until his retirement from full-time funeral directing in 1995. Over the past 16 years he had continued to work at the funeral home whenever he was needed, which included participating in the Annual Service of Remembrance held just the day before his death. Bernie was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where he was a lector and usher. He was a former member of the Melrose Lions Club, Melrose Knights of Columbus, and Melrose Jaycees. He was a past president of the Melrose Chamber of Commerce and a past president of Meadowlark Country Club. There was no one more proud of his community than Bernie Schad. He was instrumental in recruiting and hiring four doctors for the Melrose Clinic and Hospital. He was known as the Dutchmen Superfan for his long-time support of all athletic events at Melrose High School and was instrumental in the formation of the 740 Club. He was involved in planning the Melrose Centennial Celebration in 1972, was the emcee of the Miss Melrose Pageant for many years, was named an honorary Mpls. Aquatennial Commodore, and led the drive to raise funds for a grand piano for the new high school auditorium. Over the years he mentored many young people in the community and in his profession. He was a long-time member of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association (MFDA), serving as president in 1986-87, and the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). Survivors include his wife, Mary Schad of Melrose; four children, Julie (Mel) Schaefer of Melrose, Joe (Angela) Schad of Maple Grove, Mike (Kerry) Schad of West Yellowstone, Montana, and Patrick (Teresa) Schad of Melrose; ten grandchildren, Ben (Lane) Schaefer of Sauk Centre, Jillian (J.J.) Megge of South Lyon, Michigan, Jon (Jessica) Schaefer of St. Cloud, Joey (friend, Jenna Burns) Schaefer of St. Cloud, Tucker Landis of Minneapolis, Samantha Schad of Maple Grove, Mandy Lakso of Superior, Wisconsin, Kanika Lakso of West Yellowstone, Montana, Gracie and Logan Schad of Melrose; two great-grandsons, Jordan Schaefer and Tyson Lakso; six brothers and sisters, Mike (Marge) Schad of Grove City, Ohio, Jeanine Ryan of Rochester, Virginia (Dave) Carlson of St. Michael, Suzanne (Jim) Smith of Salt Lake City, Utah, Tom Schad of Burnsville, Loretta (John Hendrickson) Gosse of Bloomington, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents, Christian (1960)and Catherine Schad (1996); infant son, Christian on November 10, 1960; sisters, Marilyn Muller and Kate Schaber; brothers, Chris and Dr. John Schad, DDS on July 1, 2011. Serving as casket bearers will be Ben, Jon and Joey Schaefer, Jillian Megge, Tucker Landis, Joe Leach, Santo and Tomas Cruz. Cross bearer will be Patrick Patton and scripture bearer will be Joanne Cruz. Published on the Patton-Schad Funeral Home web site. Click on the PHOTO tab above to view all images in this memorial record. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ What are the Odds? Two of the best funeral directors Melrose ever had, Bernie Schad & Elmer Schoenecker , serviced the people in the area for a combined 61 years. They were not only colleagues, they were friends for more than 45 years. Incredibly, Bernie and Elmer died the same day, Monday, Dec 5, 2011. The Melrose Beacon published an article about Elmer and Bernie in the December 14, 2011 issue. Click on the PHOTO tab above to read this story. Perhaps God the Father wanted Bernie and Elmer to take their last ride together....in God's heavenly hearse....headed to God's place. (no police escort needed, the guys know the way) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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