Dec. 28, 1919 — Feb. 24, 2017
A funeral Mass will be held for Bernard Reilly at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 2, 2017, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ledyard. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at Oakcrest Funeral Services, Bancroft, with A Knights of Columbus Rosary starting at 4 p.m. Interment with military honors will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Ledyard.
Bernard William Reilly was born Dec. 28, 1919, on the Reilly family farm to parents Edward and Elizabeth (Korrect) Reilly. He was raised with his three brothers, Louis, Philip and Arnold on the farm near Lone Rock.
Bernard enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 1941, just before the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He served in the South Pacific during World War II from 1941 – 1945. He saw action in six major battles and was an eye witness to the raising of the U. S. flag on Mount Suribachi after the battle on Iwo Jima, memorialized by the famous photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal.
Bernard worked as the Manager of the Ledyard Farmers’ Cooperative for 28 years from 1953 to 1982. In 2001, he was inducted into the Kossuth County Agriculture Hall of Fame.
In Ledyard, he met Mary Ann Haag and the two were married on Sept. 14, 1954, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They raised three children, Colleen, Steven and David. Bernard died on Feb. 24, 2017, at his home at the Main Street Manor in Swea City, at the age of 97.
Bernard served on the Ledyard Town Council for 30 years, and was town mayor for six years. In 1995, he ran for District 5 Supervisor in Kossuth County and served in that role for one full term. He thoroughly enjoyed his work representing District 5, but in 1999, he decided not to run for re-election. He also served on the Kossuth County Economic Development Board, the 911 Board and on the Kossuth County Zoning Commission.
After his retirement, Bernard was known for his lush vegetable and flower gardens. He planted and tended to the flowers at the Ledyard welcome signs on the south and east the entrances to town, as well as the flower tubs on Main Street.
Bernard is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Ann, daughter Colleen and her husband, Robert Smith of Frisco, Texas, Steven, of Arlington, Texas, David of San Diego and granddaughter Erin Reilly of San Louis Obispo, Calif. He is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his three brothers and an infant sister.
Bernard was an honest, hardworking man of deep faith, a beloved father and husband and was devoted to his community and his church.
Oakcrest Funeral Services, 515-295-3731, www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com