Shirley Jean (Hodgson) Bernard

Bernard, Shirley Jean

Age 95 of Wayzata, MN   Born August 1, 1926.  Passed away peacefully on November 2, 2021 into her eternal home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Born on the family farm near Eagle Grove, Iowa, Shirley attended a one room country school until eighth grade.  Her interests in younger years were playing piano (this was her excuse to get out of farm chores), 4-H Dairy Club where she won a prize calf named Blondie at the county fair at the age of 13 and spending time with extended family and friends.

Shirley attended high school in Eagle Grove.  By looking at her senior yearbook, one would wonder how she had time to study since she participated in numerous extracurricular activities.  She played the saxophone in Marching, Pep and Swing Bands.  Other activities included chorus, Thespians, Girls’ Glee Club, musical plays, Commercial Club President, Class Secretary and State Music Contest – First Rating for piano.  Shirley graduated from high school on May 19, 1944.  Ken, the love of her life and the only person she ever dated, served in WWII while Shirley attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa majoring in Home Economics.  Ken and Shirley were married on March 23, 1947 after WWII ended and they both attended Iowa StateCollege.

Their two sons, Greg and Doug were born in Iowa.  Ken worked for Westinghouse Electric as a sales engineer while Shirley raised the two boys.  Ken and Shirley moved to Minneapolis in 1966 on a corporate transfer with Westinghouse.  They made their home in Forest Hills in Minnetonka.  Shirley was a loving wife, mother and friend.  She was a vocalist singing at weddingsand in church choirs, a librarian at West Junior High, a long time PEO member, and a Bible Study Fellowship discussion group leader.  She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, gardening, downhill skiing and shopping.  Most of all, she loved the Lord Jesus Christ and spending time with family and friends.

Shirley is survived by her son Doug (Nicki) Bernard; 3 grandchildren, Christopher Bernard, Laura (Derek) Thomas, Michelle Bernard; great grandson Andrew Thomas; brother in-law Jerald (Laurene) Bernard; brother in-law James Stevensonand many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Warren and Edith Hodgson; brother, Roger Hodgson; sister-in-law, Rosemary Hodgson Brown; son, Gregory Bernard; husband, Kenneth Bernard.

Celebration of life Monday, November 8, 2021, 12 noon at Grace Church, 9301 Eden Prairie Road, Eden Prairie, MN  55347.  Visitation at 11:00 am at Grace Church one hour prior to the service. Please enter the church through door 2 for direct access to the Chapel.  Interment will be at Grandview Park Cemetery in Hopkins, MN.  For those unable to attend, the service will be live streamed at 12:00 CST at:  https://grace.church/shirleybernard/   The service will also be recorded and will be active about 7 days later for viewing (at the above link) in the following weeks.

Memorials may be directed to Grace Church Missions

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