Walter Louis Berndt

On Friday September 6th 1929, Walter Louis Berndt entered this world. He was the only child of Walter and Eleanor Berndt. Wally grew up in Milwaukee Wisconsin, his family had immigrated from Germany and created several small businesses, his favorite being a diner/cafe where he began working at a young age. This was the beginning of his strong work ethic. Wally would claim the diner “ had the best frozen custard in town.“

Wally was an avid sports fan and a talented athlete. He earned highschool letters in football, basketball and track. When going through his things, we found many newspaper articles extolling his athletic prowess. In one game he scored 3 touchdowns. The first as the quarterback, another as a wide receiver and a third as the running back. He pitched fast pitch softball and played on local teams later in life.

He went to college for an education degree in science and met our mother Elizabeth Louise Berndt soon after, who was also a teacher. They moved to Green Bay Wisconsin, built 2 houses and started their family. They soon had three children, each a year and a half apart. Jeffery John, Julianne and David Paul. In 1962 they took the three of us to Michigan State University for a year while he earned his master’s degree in biology. When we returned to Green Bay in 1963, they had a third son, Robert Ryan Berndt. Bobby was a joy filled baby and well loved.

Wally was a die hard Green Bay Packers fan and attended the Ice Bowl against the Dallas Cowboys in 1967. Vince Lombardi was his neighbor, and my older brother Jeff was his paperboy. Vince attended our church and would often go to early morning masses, sometimes subbing for altar boys who had slept in. We were never quite sure if Wally was there to spend an hour with God, or his idol Vince at 7am.

Wally always made time for his kids. He played the trumpet, and when he brought it out we would follow him around the house, Pied Piper style banging on pots and pans. He sang and whistled beautifully. During car trips, we would sing round after round of John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt. When he got home from work he would pitch balls, shoot baskets and throw footballs with all the kids in the neighborhood. During the winter, inside fun included rounds of Fruit Basket Upset, and our all time favorite, his version of hide and seek. The three older kids would lie on our parents bed with all of the lights turned off. Dad would hide, and when we felt brave enough, the three of us would venture out, tiptoeing down the hallway. Wally would eventually jump out, scaring the bejesus out of us.

In 1967, our last sibling was born Richard Parker Berndt. We were all old enough to love and help care for Richie. He grew up fast, especially trying to keep up with his brother Bob and all the other kids in the neighborhood.

Wally decided to leave teaching and began working as a salesman for Uarco Business Forms. He earned recognition and was offered a manager position in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The family moved in 1968.

Our parents purchased a beautiful home in a neighborhood full of children, with large trees surrounding the backyard. We were all extremely happy. Tragedy struck our family one July day when three days after his third birthday, our little brother Richie slipped into our swimming pool and drowned. It was beyond devastating for all of us and for our close knit community.

Wally wanted to give our family a fresh start. He decided to move the family to Arlington Texas in 1973. Wally and Elizabeth loved the warmer climate and enjoyed Texas. Recovering from Richie’s death was excruciating for all of us, but it was hardest on our mom. Our strong, loving and devoted mom was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 1979, and died in April 1980. Losing our mom broke our hearts again.

Brother Dave’s best friend, Nick, suggested introducing Wally to his mom Evelyn Fox, who’s husband had died several years before. To say the two hit it off would be an understatement. They were married and remained happily married for 40 years. Wally proved to be a fabulous step father to Evie’s children, a grandfather and great-grandfather.

During the early Covid epidemic of 2020, Wally lost his first born son, our brother, Jeffrey John Berndt. Wally had a hard time grasping Jeff’s death, and would ask about him and get teary when we reminded him Jeff had died. Jeff was the family historian. I missed Jeff terribly while writing this piece and felt his presence while doing so.

Wally’s second beloved wife Evelyn Connely Fox Berndt died in September 2022.

This was Wally’s final heartbreak and his strong body finally started declining. Wally passed away peacefully on Sunday the fourth of December at 2:30 am.

Wally and Evie have been residing at the Westmore Senior Living in Fort Worth Texas.The staff has been incredible. Our step sister, Connie Fox has been the primary contact and has done an extraordinary job managing both Wally and Evie’s care, visiting them often and keeping us all informed. Caretaker and family friend Fannie Lindsey and her son DeMarcus were by Wally’s side several days a week and were devoted and kind to him.

The Berndt kids would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Connie and her siblings Nick, Kathy and Carrie and their children for loving and honoring Wally over the years. An interment of his ashes and a “Wally Weekend” with all family members will be planned later in the spring.

In closing I will remember Wally’s zest for life, and I hope you will too. When I had the opportunity to visit him, I would sing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and he would always join in. Even when he was curled up in his bed and uncomfortable, it was “the greatest day, the best hamburger, the best milkshake, etc,” He would never complain.

I hope Wally is reunited with all the spirits that loved him on this earth, and if dreams come true,…. Maybe Vince Lombardi helped open the gate.

Wally was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Eleanor, his first wife Elizabeth Louise Berndt, his youngest son Richard Parker Berndt, and his oldest son Jeffrey John Berndt.

He is survived by: Juli Evangelista, Dave Berndt and his wife Jolie, and Bob Berndt and his wife Debbie, and daughter in law Evelyn Berndt, and Wally’s 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren, Madeline Berndt, Alex Berndt, Mattias Evangelista, Micah Evangelista, Stephen Berndt, his wife Caroline and their children Sutton and Lily, Ryan Berndt and his wife Mary, Michael Berndt, Jordana Mathews and her husband Ben and their son Oliver, Juliana Dusek and her husband Marty and their children Walker and Sophia, Elizabeth Berndt, Brigid Berndt and Ethan Berndt. grandchildren.Kathy Fox, Carrie Fox, Nick Fox III and Connie Fox and her partner Jeff; her ten grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, Krista Potter, her husband Justin and their two children Conley and Evie, Austin Curry, his wife Megan and their three children, Caspar, Clive and Colette, Kacie Smith and her three children Trinity, Adrianna, and Olivia, Sara File, her husband David and their three children Connor, Eliza and Luke, Clint Keeton, his fiancé Jocelyn and their son Cooper, Nick Fox IV and his fiancé Mary Kathryn, Kate Fox, Molly Fox, Macy Silva and her husband Joey and their two children Millie and Jace, and Max Layne.

The staff at Moore Funeral Home encourages family and friends to express their fond memories, expressions of sympathy and additional condolences to the family of Walter Louis Berndt by visiting www.moore-funeralhome.com

In addition, If you or someone you know wish to send a floral condolence to the Berndt family in honor of the late Walter Louis Berndt, you may choose to do so by calling In Bloom Flowers and Gifts at (972) - 256 - 6637.