John was born on March 5, 1923 to Waldo and Lula Mae Cox Bernard in Kansas City, KS. He grew up playing sports and played clarinet in a 100-man marching band at Wyandotte High School. He enjoyed growing vegetables with his mother and fishing with his father.
He joined the US Navy as a parachute rigger first class and was required to make one free fall parachute jump as a motivation to correctly pack the parachutes. He then attended Kansas State University followed by University of Kansas where he earned an accounting degree.
It was in Lawrence where he met Phyllis Willson and began a 68-year marriage. They had two children, Trent of St. Louis and Greg of Leawood. He worked his entire career at Owens Corning as a cost/accounting manager retiring in 1986.
John’s joys in life were his family, eating at the Tavern Sunday mornings (where he just had a big 99th birthday celebration complete with a standing ovation by the other patrons), First Watch on Wednesdays, recently meeting his one and only great-granddaughter and livestreaming his granddaughter Abby’s wedding last month.
He is survived by sons Trent and Greg (Lisa), grandchildren Tyler (Ashley), Abby (Matt), Jack, Mary Alex and Michael, and great-granddaughter Ava.
Donations can be made to Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208.
