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Note: Brother Augustine Bernet, S.V.D.
Brother Augustine died peacefully in his room at Divine Word Residence in Techny on Friday afternoon, August 9, 1985 at 2:30 P.M., aged 94. Wake services were held in Divine Word Chapel on Sunday, August 11, at 7 P.M. conducted by Rev. Raymond Kunkel, S.V.D., of the seminary staff. The funeral Mass of the Resurrection for Brother Gus was held on Monday August 12, at 10 A.M. in the seminary chapel conducted by Father Kunkel as main celebrant assisted by Divine Word missionaries as con celebrants. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Leo Hotze, S.V.D., member of the Techny community, who reminisced the long life of the aged Divine Word Brother who had given over 50 years of his life to the missionary community. Frank George Bernet was born April 22, 1891 at Prangenau, Germany (now a part of Poland near Gdansk and the North Sea, formerly Prussia). He was the son of Joseph Anthony Bernet and Mary Theide Bernet, pioneer residents of south central Wisconsin before the turn of the century. The Bernet family immigrated to the United States from their native Germany, a part of Prussia in the 19th century, in 1895 when Frank was 4 years old. He was their 4th child and grew up at Blanchardsville, Wisconsin. The Bernet family were farmers in south central Wisconsin for many years and later moved to central Minnesota. They lived at Long Prairie where their parents spent their later years. Frank remained at home and farmed with his family. Also he was the parish janitor in Long Prairie. He faithfully took care of his mother during the last years of her life. Mrs. Mary Bernet suffered from a broken hip for some years; and later died of a stroke in July, 1925, age 68. After his mother's death, he joined the missionary society at Techny. His father, Joseph Bernet, died in June, 1931, age 80, and lies at rest beside his wife in the parish cemetery in Long Prairie. The children of the Bernet family in the order of their birth is as follows: 1. Mrs. Emma Forster who died in April, 1964, age 81. 2. Mrs. Mary Wittenwyler of Brooklyn, Wisconsin who died December 26, 1978, age 94. 3. Mrs. Rudolph (Margaret) Zimmerman who died April 22, 1981, age 94. 4. Brother Agustine Bernet, S.V.D. 5. Joseph Anthony Bernet, Age 91, living at a nursing home in Little Falls, Minnesota. Frank Bernet had planned on becoming a religious for many years, however, he promised his mother that he would care for her as long as she lived. After his mother's death, he applied for the religious life of the Divine Word Brothers in Techny. The came to Techny on September 22, 1926 as a belated vocation when he was 35 years old. Brother Gus entered the Brothers' novitiate on May 1, 1927 and made his profession of first vows on May 1, 1929. His perpetual vows were received on May 5, 1935. He spent his entire religious life in Techny and worked on the community farm. He celebrated his silver jubilee in May, 1954. He had charge of the Techny's hog farm and managed the pig sties for over 2 decades during the 1940s and 1950s. He raised several hundred hogs annually for meat products needed to feed the large missionary community at St. Marys in Techny. His efficiency was noted in his feeding, cleaning and tending to the hog herd as well as providing prime fresh meat supplies for the seminary. He helped plant crops in the springtime and harvest the abundant yields in the fall each year. The golden jubilee celebration honoring Brother Augustine was held on Saturday, September 8, 1979 at the Divine Word Chapel in Techny. A concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving was offered in his honor at 11 A.M. by Very Rev. Donald Mulrenan, S.V.D., Rev. Roger Arnold, S.V.D., preached the in spring sermon. A reception and banquet followed the Mass. He was survived by his brother, Joseph Anthony Bernet, and by many nephews and nieces living at Brooklyn, Wisconsin, Carlos and Long Prairie, Minnesota. Brother Gus was a professed religious for 56 years.
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