Alfred Biernat Jr.

Al was born August 20, 1955, in Detroit, Michigan, son of Alfred Biernat Sr. and Margerete Biernat. He was the second-born in a family of six children. At the age of eighteen, Al left Michigan with a one-way plane ticket to Aspen, three hundred dollars in his pocket, and a desire for adventure. In Aspen, he spent his time skiing and found a love for the restaurant business.

He was an exceptionally hard worker, and grew from a bartender at the Paragon, to the general manager of The Palm Restaurant, and finally, to the owner of two locations of his namesake restaurant, Al Biernat’s, which has thrived for over 26 years. People from around the world have referred to him as the consummate host, the man who was a friend to all, and the man who never forgot a name.

Al met the love of his life, Jeannie, at the age of 23. The two married in June 1979, spending 45 beautiful years together raising their three children and enjoying their seven grandchildren. He loved them fiercely and found his greatest joy when spending time with them. He enjoyed teaching his family about the things he loved: skiing, cars, the night sky, interesting words in dictionaries, hunting, fly fishing, and so much more. Al also found joy in caring for his beloved dogs, and visiting his favorite places: Creede, Colorado and Kauai.

Al truly loved and valued people. You could often find him seeking out opportunities to connect with others and learn their stories whether that was in his restaurants, a grocery store, or on a mountain trail. He would stop, ask questions, listen, and remember a person’s story no matter who he was talking to.

Al’s faith and hope in Jesus Christ came first in every decision. His mother taught him to trust in God from a young age, and he carried that throughout his life. Al’s life, despite its challenges, was a life well-lived. In the days before Al’s death, he asked that those reading his obituary know that his faith, hope, love, joy, and peace was found in Jesus. Although ALS took his voice, he wrote, “It’s all about Him in my life. He has blessed me with a beautiful and loving wife and family. He has blessed me with wonderful pastors and employees. He has blessed me with so many wonderful people, and He stood by me through my entire life. I am thankful for the countless people that have crossed my path in this journey through time.”

He is preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Biernat Sr. and Margerete Biernat. He is survived by his wife Jeannie Biernat; daughter Angelica Saylor and her husband Dennis, and grandchildren Jade, Lark, Teel, and Wren; daughter Kaitlin Connell and her husband Benjamin, and grandchildren Luca, Julius, and Emerson; son Jess Biernat and his partner Erin Yurkinas; sister Denise Salminen and her husband Steve; sister Donna McWilliams and her husband Shawn; sister Christine Taber and her husband Mark; brother David Biernat and his wife Sabrina; brother Daniel Biernat; nephew Brad Fuller and his wife Cassie; and numerous other relatives who held a special place in his heart.

A celebration of Al's life will occur on Monday, December 2, 2024 at 10:30 AM at First Baptist Church, 1707 San Jacinto St, Dallas, TX 75201. Valet service to be provided. A private reception for the family to follow. Please contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to I AM ALS (https://www.iamals.org/) or The ALS Association (https://www.als.org/) as a tribute to Al’s generous spirit and lifelong commitment to helping others.