Bernard J Langr

Mankato Mortuary
1001 N. Riverfront Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
(507) 388-2202

Bernard J. Langr, age 81, of Mankato, MN, died Monday, April 8, 2013, at Hillcrest Health Care Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 12, 2013, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Mankato, with Rev. John Kunz officiating. Interment will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Friday.

Bernard was born on January 26, 1932, in Steele County, MN, the fifth of seven children to Norbert and Christine (Ryshavy) Langr. His mother died when he was five years old, and his father raised all seven children to adulthood.

Bernard was baptized at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity at Litomysl, a Czechoslovakian and German community ten miles south of Owatonna, MN. He received catechism lesson in Sunday school for a number of years and several two-week summer schools. It was at these lessons that Bernard learned about Jesus, a faith friendship that he never abandoned. Later in life, a friend gave Bernard a copy of the scripture passage from John 14:1-6, which says, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." That is where Bernard is going; he has Jesus' assurance.

Bernard graduated from Owatonna High School, and then served in the United States military. He enlisted for three years in 1950, and after basic training in Kansas, was sent to combat in Korea. After discharge from the military, Bernard studied at Mankato Teachers' College (now Minnesota State University, Mankato), and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1957. Bernard received his Master's degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and his Ph. D. from the University of Minnesota in 1973. Bernard taught eighth grade mathematics for four years in St. James, MN, spent seven years teaching at Mankato Teachers' College, and then spent eight years teaching at the University of Minnesota in Duluth. The second half of his career was spent with his wife as owners of a ServiceMaster franchise in Mankato. Bernard retired in 1997.

In 1961, Bernard married Grace Egan of Osseo, MN, and they have five children. All five are married and have children: son, Andrew (Cassandra) Langr of Bozeman, MT, and their two daughters, Sarah and Lydia; daughter, Caroline (Alexander) Ring of Tacoma, WA, and their daughter, Emeline; son, Peter (Kristine Fitch) Langr of Duluth, MN, and their daughter, Sophia; son, John (Solveig) Langr of Norseland, MN, and their daughters, Antonia, Helena, and Ruby; daughter, Rebecca (Markus) Klaeui of Coeur d'Alene, ID, and their daughters, Caitlin, Maia, and Silvia. Bernard and Grace celebrated fifty years of marriage on June 2, 2011. They have resided at Realife Cooperative since 2005.

Bernard enjoyed many activities throughout his life, including listening to music, gardening, woodworking, and viewing films.

Bernard is also survived by a sister, Margaret Knish of Morristown, MN; and two brothers, Donald of Mason City, IA, and Francis of Owatonna, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Edmund and Jerome; and sister, Dolores Tumbleson.