Submitted by: Dan Rich

Wilmer A. Berndt

July 11, 1923 -- Oct. 14, 2006

South Bend Tribune 10/17/2006

Wilmer A. Berndt, 83, of South Bend, passed away at 6:22 p.m. Saturday, October 14, 2006, in Goshen General Hospital. Mr. Berndt worked at Associates Investments for over 20 years and then retired as the business manager for the Notre Dame Libraries after 10 years of service. Mr. Berndt was born July 11, 1923, in South Bend, to the late Otto J. and Julie H. (Foldenauer) Berndt, and had lived in this area all of his life. On July 13, 1946, in South Bend, he married Gertrude L. Lukas, who survives. Along with his loving wife of 60 years, there are 13 children: six daughters, Anne Berndt of South Bend, Jeanne (Rod) Streff of Holdrege, Nebraska, Marie (Paul Moehle) Berndt of Alameda, CA, Mary Lou Berndt of Lafayette, IN, Catherine (Alan Syfert) Berndt and Judith (Donald Lorenzen) Berndt-Lorenzen, both of Bloomington, IN; and seven sons, James A. Berndt, M.D., of Bremen, IN, Robert A. (Christine Schubert) Berndt of Chapel Hill, NC, Thomas J. (Emily G.) Berndt of Lafayette, IN, Lawrence Berndt of South Bend, Gregory V. (Kelly Dolan) Berndt of Cambridge, MA, Brian F. (Mary Kay) Berndt of West Lafayette, IN, and Michael G. (Ndeye) Berndt of Bloomington, IN. Also surviving are 22 grandchildren, Lisa, Lynn, Elizabeth, William, Edward, Brian, Eric, Matthew, Marcie, Kevin, Jessica, Christine, Ali, Sara, Juliana, Bridget, Adina, Logan, Sierra, Robert, Adam and Ousman; three sisters, Jane (Zane) Trinkley, Joan G. Berndt and Julianne M. Berndt, all of South Bend; and three brothers, Rt. Rev. Alan Berndt, O.S.B., of Blue Cloud Abbey, South Dakota, Paul (Lea) Berndt and Richard (Angie) Berndt, both of South Bend.

One sister, Margaret M. Couch, preceded him in death. Margaret's husband, Victor Couch, lives in South Bend.

Services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 18, in The Basilica of the Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, IN. Friends may call from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. today in the Palmer Funeral Home -- Guisinger Chapel, 3718 South Michigan Street, South Bend. Mr. Berndt was a World War II Army veteran. He graduated in 1949 from the University of Notre Dame and received his BA in business. Wilmer was an avid Notre Dame football fan, and in his early years was a Boy Scout leader and an active member at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church. He was quite a handyman and enjoyed helping anyone who needed help. Memorial contributions may be made to Riverbend Cancer Services, 711 East Colfax Ave., South Bend, IN 46617; and to Catholic Charities, 1817 Miami Street, South Bend, IN 46613.