Bernadine "Bernie" Waldorf

Bernadine A. “Bernie” Waldorf, age 84 of Upsala, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, April 27 at Upsala Senior Living in Upsala, Minnesota.  

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 4 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. David Grundman officiating. Interment will be at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, Minnesota.  

Visitation will be from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Thursday at the church in Freeport.   

Bernie was born in Little Falls, MN to John and Julia (Biermaier) Riemer on August 23, 1938. She was the youngest of nine children. She graduated from Little Falls High School in 1956. Bernie was enrolled in nurses training at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls and continued her training at Miller Hospital in St. Paul.  She married Eugene Waldorf on April 25, 1959, in Little Falls, MN. In addition to partnering with her husband in raising their six children, Bernie worked in administrative jobs at Honeywell Corporation and the National Marrow Donor Program. She received her Associate of Arts degree in Interior Design from Lakewood Community College and held positions at Boldt Paint and Wallcoverings and Ethan Allen.

For sixteen years, Bernie supported Gene in his political career in the Minnesota State House of Representatives and later, Minnesota State Senate. Among many things, Bernie had a knack for remembering faces and names and providing hospitality for groups on multiple occasions.

Bernie was a voracious reader, enjoyed sewing, quilting, interior decorating and getting to know her neighbors. She loved to travel and enjoyed participation with Gene in the Mississippi River Road Commission. She liked to golf, play cards and appreciated family weddings where she and Gene danced the night away. In a stance of enduring hopefulness, Bernie never chose to “scratch her Yahtzee”. As a young mother, Bernie sewed costumes for school programs and taught Girl Scouts how to sew and cook. In later years, she gifted her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with handmade quilts.

Bernie’s community service included volunteer work at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Minneapolis), St. Casimir’s Catholic Church (St. Paul) and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (Grey Eagle). Her many roles included trustee, parish council member, faith formation instructor, lector and Eucharistic Minister. Gene and Bernie also designed and sewed seasonal liturgical banners that hang in St. Joseph’s Church in Grey Eagle. Early in their married life, Bernie and Gene were involved with Cursillo; throughout their lives the two imparted their love of God and responsibility to serve with their children, extended family, and others. For many years, Bernie and Gene traveled the U.S., speaking in Catholic parishes about Sacrificial Giving.

Along with Gene, Bernie was active with the Big Birch Lake Association (BBLA), including putting out loon nests and checking for invasive species on the lake. In 2019, the two received the BBLA Friends of the Lake Award for their 27 years of service to the organization. When they weren’t involved in BBLA activities, Bernie and Gene enjoyed sailing and swimming at Big Birch, meals at the Double R with friends and family and entertaining guests at the lake.

Bernie is survived by her six children, Jeanne (Dean) Peterson of Upsala, Paul (Barb) Waldorf of Oakdale, Sr. Bridget Waldorf, SSND of Dallas, Texas, Renee (Jody) King of Sartell, John (Katie) Waldorf of Sunrise, and David Waldorf of Minneapolis; 14 grandchildren, Curt (Lisa) Peterson, Matt (Lauren) Peterson, Christy (Adam) Wehlage, Anna (Tyler) Wolbeck, Amy Waldorf (Charles Sweigert), Greg (Maddi) Waldorf, Megan Waldorf, Elizabeth Waldorf, Joshua Waldorf, Joanna Waldorf, Ben Waldorf, Anthony King, Zachary King, and Samantha King; 12 great-grandchildren, Addie, Milo, Oliver, Emmett, Hazel, Rohan, Luetta, Phoebe, Jack, Charlie, Calvin and Charles; brother and sisters, Betty Plumer of Oklahoma, Dorothy Feakes of Forsyth, Montana, Fred (Jean) Riemer of Phoenix, Arizona, and Jeanette (Lester) Kotula of St. Paul, and many other relatives.

Bernie was preceded in death by her husband, Gene on February 29, 2020; parents, John and Julia Riemer; brothers and sisters, Joseph and his wife, Beverly Riemer, Christine and her husband, Dan Brown, Tom and his wife, Marge Riemer, Longinous (Lon) and her brothers-in-law, Glenn Feakes and Harold Plumer; and many other beloved extended family members.

The family extends special thanks to the staff at Upsala Senior Living for their compassionate care of Bernie, as well as the staff from Moments Hospice and St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls.

Memorials are preferred to Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL).