Bernard Edward Born

Bernard Edward Born affectionately known by family and friends as Bernie, 67, passed away on October 18, 2016 at 6:40 PM in his home in Fridley Minnesota. A memorial service will be held at Miller Funeral Home at 6210 Highway 65 NE Fridley, MN 55432, on Sunday, October 23rd at 3pm with the service at 4 PM. Bernie was born on February 6, 1949 to Edward and Gloria Hedwall Born. 2 years later he was joined by a brother, Michael. Brothers that could not have had more different personalities, but together had many adventures growing up. They grew up in a small home in Blaine Minnesota. He graduated high school in 1967 from Spring Lake Park. Family was a large part of Bernie's life. With his father having 15 siblings, he was not short on cousins. His Mother was also from a family of 8 children. Get-togethers were held often over the years at different family homes around Minnesota. Bernie was a drafted into the United States Army and served from 1969-1971. He was one of about 80 chosen out of more than a thousand to be stationed in Berlin as part of the Berlin Brigade during the Vietnam War. Bernie kept in contact with many from his time there. Bernie studied at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and he worked as a graphic designer at Graphic Center before there was all the technology that we have today. He also had several adventures in owning a laundromat and a fourplex. He eventually became co-owner of Country Kitchens Restaurant before retiring. Bernie enjoyed spending time with family, sitting around the fire, Building and putzing things, drawing or sketching out a new invention, watching YouTube videos and garage saling. He always spoke his mind whether you wanted to hear it or not and he didn't hold back his opinion. He made light of most situations. Many of the moments with him everyone would get a good laugh. On October 16, 1983, he met Janice at a young adults church group. They became longtime friends. After a few years of "dating", in 2003, Bernie and Janice were married in a small private ceremony. They lived in their house in Fridley which required his expertise in repair and maintenance. They enjoyed the company of many cats over the years. Bernie never had any children of his own, but his nephew and nieces were just as good. He spent a lot of time running around together with his mother and the kids, going to parks as they grew up. They had Bernie under their spell and he loved them as if they were his own children. Janice's family became a large part of Bernie's life. He grew to love every one of them. They would travel to South Dakota to visit as often as they could and they spent many nights in tents with their yearly camping trips. Bernie was diagnosed with Small Cell Carcinoma Cancer in his sinuses in August 2015. Over the next several months he underwent radiation and chemo therapy treatments. We all thought his battle may have been won until learning that the cancer had spread to his liver and lungs. The news was grim but Bernie held up his sense of humor all the way until the end when he passed away at home from his 14 month battle with Cancer. He prepared many things in advance in preparation of his passing. He wanted everyone to remember him as he was and not make a lot of fuss over him. Bernie was preceded in death by his father Edward. He is survived by his wife Janice, his mother Gloria, his brother Michael Bonita, his nephew Chris Rachelle, Jordan, Hannah, His nieces Suzanna Joshua Annis and Kimberly James Morris, and many other family members. His remains will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.