BERNARD "BERNIE" AMBROSE BAUMGARTNER

Bernard “Bernie” Ambrose Baumgartner died unexpectedly at Emplify Health by Gundersen on April 20th, 2026. He was born on 08/23/1943 in La Crosse, WI to Ambrose and Susan (Hafner) Baumgartner, he was the oldest of 14 children. He completed school through the 8th grade at St. Peter’s School in Hokah, MN. Bernie then worked on the family farm and neighboring farms to help support the family. Bernie married Dorothy Jahn on 05/02/1964 and they shared 58 years of marriage together. After they were married, they moved to the country outside of Caledonia, MN, purchasing an old school house where they made their home and raised their 3 children, Mary Lou, Karen and Joe. Bernie worked for Land O’Lakes Creamery in Caledonia, MN, after the creamery closed, he then started work for Caledonia Haulers where Bernie hauled milk for many farmers in the Iowa and Minnesota area. After 37 years Bernie made many lifelong friends with his dairy farmers and their families. Bernie’s family was his pride and joy. When he wasn’t working, he would take Dorothy and the kids to La Crosse, WI attending church on Saturday night, followed by Henry’s Hamburgers, pizza or KFC. Sunday they would meet up with the cousins and have a picnic (heating up goulash on the grill) at Petibone Park or in West Salem while the kids threw out their fishing lines. Fishing was his favorite outdoor activity, teaching his kids and eventually his grandkids everything he knew. He enjoyed hunting and going to garage sales looking for a “deal of a lifetime”, a skill he passed on to his grandsons. Later in life Bernie and his son Joe started a business of stump grinding and tree trimming, and after several years and adding equipment, B&B Tree Service, LLC was formed – most would call it work, these guys call it a fun hobby. Bernie had a sense of humor like no other, and a filter a bit thinner than most – but it was his unique personality, storytelling ability and a huge heart that made us all love him and made us all laugh, and it is what we will miss about him the most. He is survived by his children; Mary Lou (late Darryl) Graf, Karen (Joe) Ideker, Joe (Vicki) Baumgartner. Grandchildren; Michael (Anna) Graf, Laura Graf, Andy (Amanda) Graf, Jennifer (Tyler) Marson, Jessica (Adam) Heberlein, Maria Ideker (Jeremy Billiet) and Anthony (Kayla) Baumgartner, as well as 11 great-grand-children. He is further survived by his siblings; Judy Hanson, Howie (Margo) Baumgartner, Frank (Faye) Baumgartner, David (Rose) Baumgartner, Bob (Joyce) Baumgartner, Fern (Bobby Simon) Ritter, Rose Albrecht, Jerry (Pam) Baumgartner, Glen (Becky) Baumgartner, Nick (Cyndy) Baumgartner, Sue (Rick) Troke, Sharron (Ron) VonArx. Also survived by his sister-in-law’s; Chris Bray, Margie (Richard) Beitlich and La Vonne Jahn. He was proceeded in death by his parents, his wife Dorothy, his brother Kenny Baumgartner, his son-in-law Darryl Graf, brother-in-law’s Harold Hanson, Michael Albrecht, Jim Ritter, Bill Jahn and Jim Thompson, sister-in-law Lorraine (Jahn) Thompson. The family would like to express their appreciation for the years of friendship and love that helped Bernie navigate life especially after the loss of his wife Dorothy. Neighbors; Mike & Brenda Miller, Jack & Maria; Cindy Bouldan, Heidi & Hannah – your care and love for our father and grandfather, adopting him as your own, is what allowed him to continue living the life he wanted to live. We thank you for everything. And to the Dean Blumentritt family, we can only imagine the masterplan Bernie and Dean had together in their adventures each trip, the stories, or at least the ones we know of, will live on forever in our memories as we laugh as much as they did. Thank you for your friendship and love to Bernie. Bernie and Dean (Dean’O) truly had an amazing friendship, one that we all hope to experience someday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11am, Wednesday April 29th, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Caledonia. Visitation will be from 4pm to 7pm Tuesday at St. Mary’s Holy Family Hall. A rosary will be said at 9:45am, Wednesday before the service at the hall, and visitation will be from 10 to 11 am before the service at the hall. Burial will be at St. Joseph, Convent Cemetery, rural Hokah following the luncheon. The service will be livestreamed on St. Mary’s School and Parish, Caledonia, Facebook page.

BERNARD "BERNIE" AMBROSE BAUMGARTNER

August 23, 1943 - April 20, 2026