Full Obituary

     BERNARD A. KITZHABER, age 96, of Greenwood, WI, passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at the Waterford Assisted Living Facility in Colby, WI.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church, in Greenwood. Most Rev. Bishop Gerard Battersby, officiant and Rev. Keith Kitzhaber will offer the homily, and burial will follow in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ryan Kitzhaber, Zechariah Kitzhaber, Andrew Kitzhaber, William Kitzhaber, Christopher Kitzhaber, Josh Zimmerman, Jonathan Ross, Tanner Oertel, Mason Oertel, Brennan Zimmerman and Marshall Zimmerman.  Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 5:00 - 8:00 PM and again on Saturday from 9:00 - 10:30 AM.
     Bernard "Bernie" Kitzhaber was born September 13, 1928, the son of Lawrence Albert Kitzhaber; Mabel (McDowell) Kitzhaber.  He was raised and received his education in Greenwood, attending St. Mary’s Catholic School and graduating from Greenwood High School in 1946.  He was united in marriage to Patricia Ann Davis at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on October 29, 1957, and celebrated 67 years of marriage in October 2024.
     Bernie was one of 11 children in his family and is preceded in death by Geneva (Gregory) Rojillio, Loretta (Elden) Verhalen, Catherine (Richard) Deiler, Elmer Kitzhaber, Raymond “Bud” (Mary Ellen) Kitzhaber, Lorraine (Michael) Klapatauskas, and Ronald (Bonita) Kitzhaber.  He is survived by three sisters: Dolores (Calvin) Cornwell of St. Paul Park, MN, Margaret “Peggy” (Wallace) Brey of Neillsville, WI, and Josephine Ann “Jo Ann” (James) Suda of Gurnee, IL.
     Bernie and his wife Patricia had 9 children: Alan Kitzhaber in Eau Claire, WI; Ann Ross (Kitzhaber) in Suamico, WI; Gerry & Eriko (Saso) Kitzhaber in Woodbridge, VA; Beth (Kitzhaber) and Doyle Zimmerman in Stratford, WI; Lori Kitzhaber in Plover, WI; Daniel and Christine (Knoeck) Kitzhaber in Marshfield, WI; Peter and Michelle (Kuhlman) Kitzhaber in Colby, WI; Keith Kitzhaber in Abbotsford, WI; Amy (Kitzhaber) and Matt Gross in Minneapolis, MN.
     Including 14 grandchildren: Children of Ann & David Ross: Jonathan Ross and wife Shuara; Children of Gerry & Eriko Kitzhaber: LeeAnn Kitzhaber, Ryan Kitzhaber; Children of Beth (Kitzhaber) and Doyle Zimmerman: Christina and husband Todd Stensberg, Josh and wife Kariann (Grajkowski) Zimmerman; Children of Daniel and Christine (Knoeck) Kitzhaber: Veronica (Kitzhaber) and husband Robert Wack, Zechariah and wife Brooke (Beeksma) Kitzhaber, Jeremiah Kitzhaber(deceased), Rebekah & husband Austin Music, Catherine, Elizabeth; Children of Peter and Michelle (Kuhlman) Kitzhaber: Andrew & wife Shannon (Murphy) Kitzhaber, William Kitzhaber, and Christopher Kitzhaber.
     Including 6 great-grandchildren: Children of Christina (Zimmerman) and husband Todd Stensberg: Tanner and wife Julianne (Muscato) Oertel, and Mason Oertel.  Children of Rebekah (Kitzhaber) and Austin Music: Josephine Wallace; Children of Andrew & Shannon (Murphy) Kitzhaber: Maria Kitzhaber, Anna Kitzhaber, and Fulton Kitzhaber.
     Bernie served in the United States Army from December 3, 1953, to November 26, 1955.  Attending Basic and Advanced Training at Fort Riley, KS before serving his country in Japan until he completed his tour of duty in 1955 and returned to Greenwood, WI.  After completing his tour of duty in the Army he joined his father on the farm and took over in 1957 until his retirement in 1992, where he also served as a member of the Farm Bureau Board.
     Bernie had many interests, including hunting, fishing, watching sports, especially the Packers, Brewers and Badgers, camping, bowling, playing cards, and enjoying a good beer.  He especially enjoyed roller skating and deer hunting with friends and neighbors.  He also enjoyed playing softball and bowling.  He was a member of the Greenwood and Marshfield Bowling team and bowled well into his 80’s.  Played on the Old-Timers softball team until age 70.  Member of the American Legion Post 238 and served on the Honor Guard in Greenwood, WI for many years. He was active with St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenwood.  Serving the local Knights of Columbus in many capacities including Grand Knight. He also held many offices for many years with the Holy Name Society, and as president of the local Catholic Financial Life Insurance branch and actively participated in events and other activities. Bernie served at St. Mary’s on the parish council, as a lector, Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and as the custodian and maintenance manager for St. Mary’s school and parish. Bernie was sexton of the Greenwood Catholic Cemetery maintaining the grounds. He enjoyed driving school bus for the Greenwood Community for 13 years.
     He will be dearly missed by his family, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be directed to the St. Mary’s Memorial Fund, Greenwood American Legion, Diocesan sponsored orphanage Casa Hogar, Juan Pablo II, or NET Ministries.