Ann Bernat

Ann Bernat, 96, of Greenbush, MN, passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family at Good Samaritan Nursing home Warren, MN on December 27, 2014.

Ann Mary Novacek was born on July 23, 1918, to James V. and Mary B. (Wittak) Novacek on their farm North of Greenbush, in the Leo Community. She attended school through the eighth grade. Ann grew up in a large family with 4 brothers and 4 sisters.

On October 28, 1940, Ann was united in marriage to John J. Bernat at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in rural Leo. They made their home in rural Roseau County, in the Benwood community, where they farmed and raised their 6 children. On September 1, 1984, John passed away. Ann stayed on the family farm until the fall of 1985, when she moved to Greenbush.

Ann worked side by side with her husband John on their farm during their 44 years together. In their early years they managed a dairy operation and later converted to a beef herd. Ann could drive the tractors, trucks and throw bails with the best of them and then come in and make a wonderful meal for her family. Ann enjoyed baking breads for her family--her specialties included cinnamon rolls, nut-bread, poppy-seed bread and Kolache.

Ann was an avid gardener, having as many as four vegetable gardens along with beautiful flower gardens. Ann would share her beautiful flowers and decorate the altar at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Benwood where she was a member and active in the women's guild. While living in Greenbush she was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and was active in St. Ann’s Sodality.

During her years in Greenbush Ann took every opportunity to attend daily mass and later while a resident of the Good Sam she would attend weekly Mass and Rosary.

Throughout her later years Ann stayed active with flower gardening, quilting, knitting, crocheting and card playing. Each of her children received a quilt and each grandchild received a quilt upon their high school graduation. All the grandchildren remember the fun filled days of sleepovers, baking bread, the old red pickup, riding snow cat and three wheeler, picking peas, playing Skip-Bo and UNO with grandma.

Ann was preceded in death by her husband John Joseph Bernat of 44 years. Infant son Mark Anthony, sisters, Rose Brda, Mary Lepper, Phyllis Rademacher, brothers John, Joe, Tony (Anton), & Jimmy as a young child, Son-in law Mike Kane, grandson Scott Anderson, granddaughters spouse Mark Loeslie.

Ann is survived by her children Veronica Kane of East Grand Forks, MN, Jim (Judy C.) Bernat of Roseau, MN, John (Roberta) Bernat, Jr. of Foster City, CA, Judy Bernat and special friend Mike Gragert of Warren, MN & Marsha (Tom) Nadeau of White Bear Lake, MN.

Eighteen grandchildren Jack Kane of Andover, KS, Ron Kane of Cedar Falls, IA, Nancy (Jim) Corbid of Fargo, ND, Patty (Gary) Koenigs of Burnsville, MN, Stacy (Wayne Pietruszewski) Loeslie of East Grand Forks, MN, Jennifer (Danny) Messelt of East Grand Forks, MN, Mark Bernat of Roseau, MN, Melissa Bernat of Roseau, MN, Gary (Heather) Bernat of San Mateo, CA, Angela(Jay) Castro of San Jose, CA, Sarah (Matt) Pearson of Danville, CA, Stacy (Jeff) Gaskill of San Carlos, CA, Donna Blevins of Foster City, CA Brian (Anne) Bernat of St. Louis Park, MN, Laura (Josh) Efta of Stephen, MN, Rachel (Nick) Wimperis of White Bear Lake, MN, Jason Nadeau of White Bear Lake, MN and Jordan Nadeau of St Louis Park, MN; and thirty-four Great Grandchildren.

Sister, Georgine Harper of Mahtomedi, MN, sisters-in-law, Theresa Novacek of Greenbush & Helen Novacek of Roseau, MN and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services were held on Monday, January 12, 2015 in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church of Greenbush with Father Emmanuel Sylvester, officiating. Burial was in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Benwood with Gieseke Funeral Chapel of Greenbush, handling the funeral arrangements.