1922
Bernard
2015
Bernard Higgins
February 11, 1922 — June 6, 2015
Bernard (Bernie) Francis Higgins was born February 11, 1922 in Albert Lea and died at the age of 93 on June 6, 2015. He was the son of Joseph James Higgins and Anna Schenhofen.
Bernie was a lifelong resident of Albert Lea. He attended St. Theodore Catholic School and was a lifelong member of St. Theodore's Church.
As a teenager he worked for the city delivery system delivering groceries for the big grocery stores. In his late teens he met the girl of his dreams, Virginia May Hagen. They married in 1939 and celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary last year.
He was employed as a millwright at Wilson and Co., (the former meat packing plant in Albert Lea) for 40 years. After his retirement he worked part-time for Herberger's and Bonnerup Funeral Services. He was also employed at Court Services as a surrogate father for three years.
Bernie was a dedicated husband and father sometimes working two jobs to support his wife and 9 children. After he had heart bypass surgery at the age of 60, he could be seen walking the 5 miles around Fountain Lake early each morning for the next 30 years. He had a wonderful sense of humor and although he only had an 8th grade education, he could figure out how to build and fix anything.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia; daughters, Patricia Stern of Rochester and Bonnie Arneson of Canton, Georgia; son Stephen (Lynn) Higgins of Loretto; daughters, Cathy Legried of Albert Lea, Julie (Rex) Mhiripiri of Lakeville and Colleen Higgins of Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and son Greg (Sara) Higgins of Owatonna; 29 grandchildren; 52 great grandchildren; 12 great great grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Maxine Higgins of Austin, MN.
He was precededed in death by his parents; daughters, Debbie Higgins and Diana Ningen; sons-in-law, Vern Stern, Gary Arneson, Roger Ningen, and Gary Legried; granddaughter Beth Stern; great grandson Jason Rademacher; and brothers, Leo, Edward, Leonard and Robert.
Funeral service will be held at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 12th. Father Timothy T. Reker and Deacon Mike Ellis will officiate. Visitation will be held at Bonnerup Funeral Service from 4 to 7 on Thursday, June 11th and again one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be in St. Theodore Catholic Cemetery.
Bernie was a lifelong resident of Albert Lea. He attended St. Theodore Catholic School and was a lifelong member of St. Theodore's Church.
As a teenager he worked for the city delivery system delivering groceries for the big grocery stores. In his late teens he met the girl of his dreams, Virginia May Hagen. They married in 1939 and celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary last year.
He was employed as a millwright at Wilson and Co., (the former meat packing plant in Albert Lea) for 40 years. After his retirement he worked part-time for Herberger's and Bonnerup Funeral Services. He was also employed at Court Services as a surrogate father for three years.
Bernie was a dedicated husband and father sometimes working two jobs to support his wife and 9 children. After he had heart bypass surgery at the age of 60, he could be seen walking the 5 miles around Fountain Lake early each morning for the next 30 years. He had a wonderful sense of humor and although he only had an 8th grade education, he could figure out how to build and fix anything.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia; daughters, Patricia Stern of Rochester and Bonnie Arneson of Canton, Georgia; son Stephen (Lynn) Higgins of Loretto; daughters, Cathy Legried of Albert Lea, Julie (Rex) Mhiripiri of Lakeville and Colleen Higgins of Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and son Greg (Sara) Higgins of Owatonna; 29 grandchildren; 52 great grandchildren; 12 great great grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Maxine Higgins of Austin, MN.
He was precededed in death by his parents; daughters, Debbie Higgins and Diana Ningen; sons-in-law, Vern Stern, Gary Arneson, Roger Ningen, and Gary Legried; granddaughter Beth Stern; great grandson Jason Rademacher; and brothers, Leo, Edward, Leonard and Robert.
Funeral service will be held at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 12th. Father Timothy T. Reker and Deacon Mike Ellis will officiate. Visitation will be held at Bonnerup Funeral Service from 4 to 7 on Thursday, June 11th and again one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be in St. Theodore Catholic Cemetery.
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