Doug Bernaciak, age 93, of Ivanhoe, MN passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at the Hendricks Community Hospital Nursing Home in Hendricks, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00am on Friday, March 7th at St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at the St. John Cantius Catholic Cemetery near Wilno, MN. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel of Hendricks, MN is entrusted with the arrangements.
Douglas Steven Bernaciak was born on November 30, 1931 in Oak Park, Illinois to Cashmer and Frances (Dempski) Bernaciak. They moved to rural Ivanhoe in the spring of 1932. He was raised on the family farm (initially north of Ivanhoe and for most of his life south of Ivanhoe) the oldest of 3 children. Doug began his education at Arco Public School and graduated from Ivanhoe Public School in 1949. In 1952 Doug was inducted into the U.S. Army. His main duty for his 2 year enlistment was photography, including developing photos, and that included photos of large artillery. He was stationed in Germany for the majority of his deployment. After this service to his country, for the rest of his life Doug was a dedicated farmer on his family’s farm south of Ivanhoe. His hobbies included attending farm auctions and fall seed crop plot demonstration days, browsing gun shows, and out of the ordinary reading including encyclopedias. He had a wonderful sense of humor and quite the way with words whether conversing or writing letters. Doug was a lifelong member of St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno. He lived with and cared for his parents until Cash’s passing in 1988 and Frances’ in 2008.
He died peacefully at the Hendricks Community Hospital on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at the age of 93 years, 2 months, and 29 days.
Doug is lovingly remembered by his brother, Denis (Ann) of Ivanhoe, and his sister, Mary Jane Wingen of Mankato; nine nieces and nephews: Daniel (Jackie) Bernaciak, Jane (Scott) Armstrong, Peter (Carol) Bernaciak, Thomas (Tracy) Bernaciak, Amy (Bob) Motelet, John Wingen, Rebecca (Brian) Gersich, Barbara (Phil) Price, and Angela (significant other, Ben) Wingen; fourteen great-nieces/nephews, and thirteen great great nieces/nephews. To John, Becky, Barb, Angie, and their partners and children, he’ll always be their Uncle Gus. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law Francis “Frank” Wingen.
