Robert Bernard

Reverend Robert Paul Bernard, Sr., age 86, of Melrose, formerly of Blaine, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, July 25, 2008 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose.

A service celebrating Bob's life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 28 at Tri-City Christian Center in Freeport with Rev. Robert P. Bernard, Jr., Rev. Clarence St. John, and Rev. Steven R. Finton officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Melrose with military honors provided by the Albany American Legion Post 482.

Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the Tri-City Christian Center in Freeport.

Rev. Robert "Bob" Bernard, Sr. was born November 21, 1921 in North Braddock, PA to Harry and Bertha (Motmiller) Bernard. On June 27, 1942 he married Donna Masters in North Braddock, PA. Bob was a WWII veteran serving in the U.S. Army as a medic in the South Pacific. He was a 1951 graduate of North Central Bible Institute in Minneapolis with a Pastoral Degree. He pastored Assemblies of God churches in Pennsylvania and Minnesota, founding the St. Francis Gospel Tabernacle in St. Francis, Minnesota. He was also a machinist at American Hoist & Derrick in St. Paul, retiring in 1982.Bob was an accomplished guitarist. He played in his church's worship band and enjoyed playing music with his friends and family. He was an avid golfer and tennis player playing competitively in senior leagues until his illness. He was a member of Abundant Life Community Church in Blaine and most recently, the Tri-City Christian Center in Freeport where his son, Bob Jr., pastors. He was also a member of the VFW in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Donna (Masters) Bernard of Melrose; daughter, Elizabeth Bernard of Blaine; son, Rev. Robert P. (Cathy Jo) Bernard, Jr. of Freeport; two grandchildren, Rev. Donna (Rev. Joshua) Falvo of Washington, PA and Rev. Robert P. (Rev. Rachelle) Bernard, III of Red Wing; five great-grandchildren, Dominic, Dylan, and Derek Falvo, and Robert P. "Pauley", IV and Payton Bernard; sister, Lois (Waldon) Henriksen of Melrose; and brothers-in-law, Clyde Masters of Ligionier, PA and Ralph Schissler of Latrobe, PA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Bertha Bernard.

Serving as casket bearers will be Rev. Robert P. Bernard, III, Rev. Joshua Falvo, Robert Payne, Steven Danzl, Rick Hellermann, and Aaron Norris.