Bernard Kitzhaber
Bernard A. Kitzhaber, 96, Greenwood, passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at the Waterford Assisted Living Facility in Colby. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Greenwood. Most Rev. Bishop Gerard Battersby, officiant, and Rev. Keith Kitzhaber will offer the homily. Burial will follow in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ryan Kitzhaber, Zechariah Kitzhaber, Andrew Kitzhaber, William Kitzhaber, Christopher Kitzhaber, Josh Zimmerman, Jonathan Ross, Tanner Oertel, Mason Oertel, Brennan Zimmerman, and Marshall Zimmerman. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 5-8 p.m., and again on Saturday from 9-10:30 a.m.
Bernard “Bernie” Kitzhaber was born Sept. 13, 1928, the son of Lawrence Albert Kitzhaber and Mabel (McDowell) Kitzhaber. He was raised and received his education in Greenwood, attending St. Mary Catholic School and graduating from Greenwood High School in 1946. He was united in marriage to Patricia Ann Davis at St. Mary Catholic Church on Oct. 29, 1957, and celebrated 67 years of marriage in October 2024.
Bernie was one of 11 children in his family and was preceded in death by Geneva (Gregory) Rojillio, Loretta (Elden) Verhalen, Catherine (Richard) Deiler, Elmer Kitzhaber, Raymond “Bud” (Mary Ellen) Kitzhaber, Lorraine (Michael) Klapatauskas, and Ronald (Bonita) Kitzhaber. He is survived by three sisters: Dolores (Calvin) Cornwell of St. Paul Park, Minn., Margaret “Peggy” (Wallace) Brey of Neillsville, and Josephine Ann “Jo Ann” (James) Suda of Gurnee, Ill.
Bernie and his wife Patricia had nine children: Alan Kitzhaber of Eau Claire, Ann Ross (Kitzhaber) of Suamico, Gerry and Eriko (Saso) Kitzhaber of Woodbridge, Va., Beth (Kitzhaber) and Doyle Zimmerman of Stratford, Lori Kitzhaber of Plover, Daniel and Christine (Knoeck) Kitzhaber of Marshfield, Peter and Michelle (Kuhlman) Kitzhaber of Colby, Keith Kitzhaber of Abbotsford, and Amy (Kitzhaber) and Matt Gross in Minneapolis, Minn.
Their family includes 14 grandchildren: children of Ann and David Ross: Jonathan Ross and wife Shuara; children of Gerry and Eriko Kitzhaber: LeeAnn Kitzhaber and Ryan Kitzhaber; children of Beth (Kitzhaber) and Doyle Zimmerman: Christina and husband Todd Stensberg, and Josh and wife Kariann (Grajkowski) Zimmerman; children of Daniel and Christine (Knoeck) Kitzhaber: Veronica (Kitzhaber) and husband Robert Wack, Zechariah and wife Brooke (Beeksma) Kitzhaber, Jeremiah Kitzhaber (deceased), Rebekah and husband Austin Music, Catherine, and Elizabeth; children of Peter and Michelle (Kuhlman) Kitzhaber: Andrew and wife Shannon (Murphy) Kitzhaber, William Kitzhaber, and Christopher Kitzhaber; and six great-grandchildren: children of Christina (Zimmerman) and husband Todd Stensberg: Tanner and wife Julianne (Muscato) Oertel, and Mason Oertel; child of Rebekah (Kitzhaber) and Austin Music: Josephine Wallace; children of Andrew and Shannon (Murphy) Kitzhaber: Maria Kitzhaber, Anna Kitzhaber, and Fulton Kitzhaber.
Bernie served in the United States Army from Dec. 3, 1953, to Nov. 26, 1955. He attended basic and advanced training at Fort Riley, Kan., before serving his country in Japan until he completed his tour of duty in 1955 and returned to Greenwood. After completing his tour of duty in the Army, he joined his father on the farm and took over in 1957 until his retirement in 1992, where he also served as a member of the Farm Bureau Board.
Bernie had many interests, including hunting; fishing; watching sports — especially the Packers, Brewers, and Badgers; camping; bowling; playing cards; and enjoying a good beer. He especially enjoyed roller skating and deer hunting with friends and neighbors. He also enjoyed playing softball and bowling. He was a member of the Greenwood and Marshfield bowling team and bowled well into his 80s. He played on the Old-Timers softball team until age 70. Bernie was also a member of the American Legion Post 238 and served on the Honor Guard in Greenwood for many years. He was active with St. Mary Catholic Church in Greenwood, serving the local Knights of Columbus in many capacities including Grand Knight, held many offices for many years with the Holy Name Society, and was president of the local Catholic Financial Life Insurance branch and actively participated in events and other activities. Bernie served at St. Mary on the parish council, as a lector, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and as the custodian and maintenance manager for St. Mary School and Parish. Bernie was sexton of the Greenwood Catholic Cemetery, maintaining the grounds. He also enjoyed driving school bus for the Greenwood community for 13 years.
He will be dearly missed by his family, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be directed to the St. Mary Memorial Fund, Greenwood American Legion, diocesan sponsored orphanage Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II, or NET Ministries.
Online condolences may be expressed at cuddiefh.com. Cuddie Funeral Home of Greenwood is assisting the family with arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY 171553
