Arthur Berns

Arthur "Art" G. Berns, 84, of Waukon, IA, died Sunday, May 28, 2023, at his home in rural Waukon. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 2nd, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial will be held on Saturday, June 3rd, at 11:30 AM at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 3:30 PM scripture service.

Arthur Gordon Berns was born February 1, 1939, in Union Prairie Township, rural Waukon, IA, the son of Bernard "Verni" and Eleanora (Taake) Berns. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's the Baptist Catholic Church-West Ridge. Art attended Union Prairie country school, a one room schoolhouse where his mother taught, and he graduated from St. Patrick Catholic School in Waukon where he met his future wife. On May 28, 1960, he married Joan Davis at St. Patrick Catholic Church. They moved to Chicago before settling in Rolling Meadows, IL, in 1963, where they lived and raised their family for 43 years. Art owned and operated Art Berns Construction as a general contractor and was known as Art the Carpenter in the greater Chicagoland area. He retired in 2006, and they moved back to the Waukon area.

Art was a member of the Patterson Creek Social Club. He loved entertaining family and friends at the campground on his property. Art enjoyed golfing, bowling, fishing, and horseshoes. He also was highly creative and loved woodworking.

Survivors include his children: Peggy (John) Monson, Patty (Steve) Coldebella, Pam Donohue, and Linc (Jenni) Berns, all of Rolling Meadows, IL; eight grandchildren: Bryan (Kendall) Monson, Keith (Julia) Monson, Shana Berns, Austin Reed, Mitchell Coldebella, Jimmy Donohue, and Ember and Ashley Berns; two great-grandchildren: Mary Jane Donohue, and Colt Monson; his siblings: Mary Ann Burke, Bernard (Eileen) Berns, and Francis (Muggs) Berns, all of Waukon; sisters-in-law: Mavis Berns-Mathis and Lynn Ann Williams, both of Waukon, and Janet (Lou) Bork of West Chicago, IL; a brother in law John Davis of Mississippi; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Joan in 2019; two sisters: Betty (Emmett) Howe and Karla Kay Berns; a brother Verdine Berns; a brother-in-law Ray Burke; and two nephews: Kevin Howe and Jeff Berns.

Honorary casket bearers are Tony Link, Reggie Vine, Perry Fahey, Dr. David Schwartz, Mark Armstrong, Barb Grant, and the entire Patterson Creek Social Club. Casket bearers are Art's son, grandchildren, and sons-in-laws.