BERNARD ADAM "BERNIE" WOEHLE ~ Class of 1949
December 13, 1931 - December 24, 2007





Bernie, 76, passed away unexpectedly at his home on December. 24, 2007.

Bernie was born December 19, 1931, to Nicholas and Marie Woehle in Bismarck, ND. As the only boy in a family of three sisters, he learned early how to make mischief, a characteristic that he enjoyed throughout his life.

He moved to Richland as a teenager when his father became a security guard on the Hanford Site. During the Korean War he was stationed in Japan.

He lived in the Tri-Cities for 65 years .

While on leave he met Frances Sullivan in Baltimore, Maryland. They were later married on July 3, 1954, by Father Sweeney at Christ the King Church. Bernie and Frances had nine children together.

Although they spent the majority of their married life in Richland, Bernie and Frances also lived for a short time in Seattle while he attended the University of Washington and Walla Walla where he worked as a security guard at the state penitentiary.

In 1962, they returned to Richland where Bernie worked as a chemical operator for various contractors on the Hanford site until he retired in May 1992.

Much too soon he lost Frances to cancer in February, 1987.

Bernie enjoyed spending time with friends and family, having multiple weekly "dates" at various restaurants around the Tri-Cities. He took pleasure in providing treats for his grandchildren and was always free with advice. He also valued his quiet time when he could watch a movie, read a book, or play a card game against the computer.

Bernie was preceded in death by his wife and parents.

He is survived by his children: Bernie and his wife, Joanne; Helen Garretson and her husband, Kevin; Leslie Berven and her husband, Steve; Dan; Mike; Nick and his wife, Lisa; Dave and his wife, Courtney; Tom and his wife, Lourdes; and Chris and his wife, Tami.

He had 18 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He also is survived by his sister, Shirley Woehle Hilbert ('48) and her husband, Ellsworth; sister, Marilyn Woehle Maxwell ('52) and her husband, Johnny; and sister, Karen Woehle Malloy ('62) and her husband, Jerry.

A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, January 2, 2008, at 11 am at Christ the King Church in Richland.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Bernie's memory to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association or the charity of your choice.

Express your thoughts and memories in the online guest book at www.einansfuneralhome.com.

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