Stanley E. Bernette

        Stanley E. Bernette, 80, of Sparta, left for his eternal home, with his loving family at his side, Monday, October 19, 2020, at his home under hospice care.

        He was born November 30, 1939, in Black River Falls, to Willard and Madge (Greeno) Bernette, the oldest of four children. Stan was baptized March 24, 1940, at the Christ Ev. Lutheran Church in Burr Oak and confirmed January 23, 1955, at Hope Evangelical Church. He was a 1958 graduate of Black River Falls High School. Stan joined the United States Army in August 1958 and was honorably discharged in August of 1961. During his military service he was stationed at the Nike Missile Base in Milwaukee and was then transferred to bases in Germany. On March 10, 1962, Stan married Rita Ann Steine at the Cataract Lutheran Church. He was employed by the Fort McCoy Fire Department, retiring as assistant fire chief on November 30, 1994. Stan was then employed at Ocean Spray from 1996 until 2003. He was a member of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in Sparta. Stan was a past member of the Woodland Rider’s Snowmobile Club and the Millston Knapp Sportsman’s Club. He also volunteered at the Ecumenical Food Pantry and participated in Relay for Life and the Sparta Area Cancer Support.

        Stan was an avid outdoorsman. At a young age, he would ride his bicycle with pole in hand and head for a place to fish. He was happiest when he could be fishing, hunting, gardening, and just being outdoors. Stan was a fellow who could sit for hours waiting for that big fish to break waters or the biggest antlered deer to cross his path. His fishing trips took him to many places and all such great memories. With Tom Bever, snagging salmon (when you could do that) and the trout streams where he always found those great native brook trout. His October walleye trips with Don when they hit the waters of South Dakota and Minnesota Lakes. In his younger years, he was quite the trapper also; an art that sent him along the roadways. Stan enjoyed deer hunting to the hilt. That was time for family as through the years we would gather. All the excitement as he prepared blinds and cleared lanes so we would not miss seeing the deer. He did not miss many. We have many stories to tell for sure. Brent, how he would keep calling you to make sure you would come and hunt. He got more joy out of others getting a trophy buck than he; although, he had quite a few to remember. Turkey hunting became another sport and he took the time to have his wife learn the art of turkey hunting. Then it was time for winter and the snow to come to snowmobile. He looked forward to the trips North in January and February with family and friends. Then came the Harley; how he loved to ride. He lived his life to the fullest enjoying God’s creation of the land he enjoyed so much. Stan lived in the Tomah area for about 40 years, moving to his retirement home in 2000. He was a man of adventure; he wanted to ride all the fastest roller coasters in the US. He made it to Cedar Point, Ohio, to ride the Millennium.

He also did the bungee shot over the Stratesphere in Las Vegas. However, due to medical problems and a fall from his roof (yes, fixing a motion light in order to see the wildlife at night) he found it necessary, per doctor’s orders, to no longer do this and also to leave the land he so loved to move on with life’s changes. Stan and Rita built a new home and settled in Sparta in 2007. He continued his love of the outdoors, planting flowers, watching the birds, fishing and hunting, and snowmobiling until life’s journey ended. He firmly believed in the Relay for Life and Sparta Area Cancer support and for years would find generous people to donate for the cause. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8. God took me on a journey and I lived it each day, enjoying His creation.     

     Survivors include his wife, Rita (Steine) Bernette; daughters, Dianne Lynn Fedele and Sonja Jane (Robert) Burkhart; grandchildren, Jacquelyn Rose (Fedele) (Jared) Fara; Kristy Marie Fedele, Sonya Jae Fedele, and Ahnna Raquel Burkhart; sister, Elaine (Bernette) Brudos; brother, Randy Bernette; God children, Jeff Harkner, Andy Carlson, and Jeff Greeno; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

        Stanley was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Spencer and Verna Steine; his sister, Bonnie (Bernette) Murphy; grandson, Jacob William LaRue; son-in-law, John Fedele; brother-in-law, David Hansen and his sons, Scott and John.
     A public visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 24, 2020, at Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta. Masks are required and social distancing will be observed. A private funeral service for immediate family only will be held and Pastor Mark Kvale will officiate. Burial will be held at 12:45 p.m., Saturday, October 24, 2020, at the Brookside Cemetery in Millston, Wis., with military honors to be rendered by the Miles Hagen American Legion Post 200 of Black River Falls and the United States Army Funeral Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Sparta or the Sparta Area Cancer Support (SACS).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Stanley E. Bernette, please visit our floral store.