Bernard (Bernie) F. Kotlarczyk, age 52, of Rapid River, MI passed away Thursday morning, March 15, 2007 at the Marquette General Hospital.
Bernard was born November 26, 1954 in Romulus, MI, son of Frank and Charlotte (Rutkowski) Kotlarczyk. Bernard grew up in Plymouth, Michigan, attended Plymouth Schools and graduated from Plymouth Salem-Canton High School. He continued education in photography classes, field trips on nature and bird study, courses in taxidermy, and bike trips to the U.P. He worked for the McDonald
Anonymous
I know you don’t know me, But I new Bernard through work and He truly was a wonderful, thoughtful and caring person. I will miss seeing his smiling face.
Joanna Nebel
Gladstone, MI
About 30 years ago I was Hiring a maintance person for the Alpena McDonalds. Bernie answered my ad and came in for an interview. I told him I needed someone I could trust to be alone in the restraunt all night. Bernie told me he had once found a large amount of money in a ditch and had turned it in to the police. To say I was skeptical was an understatment. Anyway Bernie returned about 30 minuts later with a clipping from a downstate newspaper. He was not kidding!! He had really turned in the money and had an article from the paper to prove it. He got the job. We soon became good friends and did a lot of middle of the night fishing and hunting together. I will allways remember Bernie yelling in the darkness when he hooked a walleye or salmon. We tracked a lot of bow shot bucks and spent a lot of time looking down ice shanty holes together. Bernie was not one of those fair weather friends you hear about. He was always there when I needed a hand. I have only been seeing him a couple of times a year since he moved north. It sounds like he made some good friends up there. I am sure going to miss him.
Glen Thompson
Ossineke, MI
Dear Patricia and Family,
Just to let you know we are thinking of you and send our deepest sympathy.
Pat, It was a pleasure getting to know you and your husband. Thank you again for the delicious Honey.
Bernie was blessed to have you by his side.
We wish you all strength and peace.
Take care.
Sincerely,
Margaret, Irene, Shirley & Blanche
MGH Hospitality Rooms
Margaret Parker
Marquette, MI
Dear Pat, I’m so sorry to see that your brother, Bernie died. I remember all the pictures your mom had of “Bernie” and his fish and “Bernie” and his deer. I hope that he was happy living “way up North”. Bernie is certainly in heaven with your Mom. I am also sorry to hear that your step-sister, Susan, died in Arizona. Your mom was always planning on driving up to Arizona to visit her, but never did go. That was sad. But now they are all in heaven and I’m sure that they are very, very happy.
Camille Nerkowski
Alpena, MI
I deliver pop to stropich oil and Bernie would always be there waiting for me so he could check in the pop and sign my invoice. I have alot of funny stories I could share here but the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that this man ALWAYS had a smile on his face. This was a wonderful man that I looked forwarded to chatting with every Tuesday. I remember one day BK came walking out with a bunch of fishing lures and I asked what he was doing, he proceeded to tell me he makes them and that he was selling them…unbelievable!! These were the most amazing hand carved lures ever..what a talent this person had…I would show up and stack my pop along side my truck and would have to go find him because most times he was hiding on me preparing to yell HEY!! at the top of his lungs to scare me!! One time the pop crashed down to the ground!! I will miss that. I will also miss all the stories and info he would give me about fishing, hunting.etc.. how bout the time he told me about the goose he shot and told me about the new goose recipe, I told him I have never had goose before..sure enough the next time I delvered there, he had a little container filled with goose dinner!! He was one of the most sincere, kind, and thoughtful people I ever met….rest in peace BK your friend
Ed Adiska
Escanaba, MI