Alvin R Bernet, age 92, of Monticello passed away on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at Pleasant View. Alvin was born February 17, 1931, one of eight children born to Swiss immigrants, Albert and Anna (Zwahlen) Bernet. He grew up in a cheese making family in the New Glarus area. He married Delores “Tessie” Isley on July 6, 1953. This July they would have celebrated their 70th anniversary. They started their married life farming with Fred and Susan Karlen, rural Monticello. They bought two adjoining farms and farmed for their entire married life. Alvin and Delores were teammates on the farm. As a side gig to their farm, Alvin and Delores “Tessie” did custom oats combining, each running their own combines in the Green/Dane County area. The Wisconsin State Journal ran a story on their combining teamwork. Their hard work and good nature became a family tradition, which lives on. Alvin was content just working on the farm, restoring his old tractors and making sure all the farm kitties had their special treats every day. After Alvin was no longer actively farming, he became a right hand man to his son, Dewey Bernet, who purchased the home farm. Kevin “Freddie” Bernet purchased the small farm where Alvin and Delores started farming. Alvin loved running for parts, hauling loads of brewer’s grain home from the New Glarus Brewery for Dewey’s cattle and stopping at Citgo on the way back home for a cup of coffee and to read the Sunday paper. In his later years, Alvin made daily morning phone calls to his daughters to see what they were up to. His signature “hello” will be missed. He loved his kids hosting special kalberwurst meals for his birthday and hanging out at Freddie’s shop. He loved a nice ripe limburger too! He was always cheerful and was an eternal optimist. He could find good in literally anything.
He is survived by his wife, Delores “Tessie” Bernet at Friedensheim Assisted Liviing in Monroe: children, Kathy (Leroy) Rindy, Diane (Dennis) Holcomb (affectionately called “Poots” by her dad), Duane “Dewey” Bernet and Kevin “Freddie” (Brenda) Bernet; 8 grandchildren; 9 (soon to be 10) great-grandchildren. Three of the four children live within one mile of the home farm and the other within four miles. Alvin was proud of all of his children. He is further survived by his sister, Elsbeth Hohn; brother, Daniel Bernet; nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, John and Benny; sisters, Hedy, Hulda and Lucille; and grandson, Brandon Rindy.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 1, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., at the Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery next to Alvin’s parents, Anna and Albert Bernet per his request. A luncheon will follow at the Monroe Moose Lodge. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, April 30, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in Alvin’s name for the St. Clare Friedensheim Walking Path Fund. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net
The family would like to thank the staff of Friedensheim and Pleasant View for their kindness taking care of the entire family.
