Obituary of Bernard J. Hart

Service: 10:30 am Saturday, May 25, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Interment: St. Jacob's Cemetery in Graettinger, Iowa Visitation: After 5 pm with the family present from 5-7 pm, Friday, May 24, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. There will be a Rosary at 6:30 followed by a Scripture Service at 7 pm Friday evening at the church. Mr. Bernard J. Hart, 86, of Milford, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. Bernard Jerome Hart is the youngest of seven sons; born Jan. 22nd, 1927, at home in Des Moines to James Francis and Anna Dolores Canavan Hart. He is the last surviving of the Hart brothers. The Harts spent every summer since 1913 at Lake Okoboji, Iowa. Bernard graduated from St. Ambrose Cathedral Grade School and Dowling Catholic High School, both in Des Moines. He enlisted in the Army right after graduation on June 30th, 1945, at the age of 18. His basic training was at Camp Pendleton where he was assigned to the 17th Infantry Division Cannon Company with whom he served overseas until his first honorable discharge on Nov. 24th, 1946. Three years later, Bernard graduated early from the Creighton University School of Business Administration in 1949. He again served with his 17th Infantry Division Cannon Company when it was reactivated during the Korean Conflict from 1950 to 1953. When he received his second honorable military discharge, Bernard began teaching Economics at Fordham University, The Jesuit University of New York. He also taught at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. Bernard never completely retired from his education vocation. In later years, he taught school on the Rosebud Indian Reservation for his students in the Sioux Nation in South Dakota. In the 1970's, Bernard moved to Portland, Oregon, to be near his brother's family, the late Dr. Jody and Rita Hart and their children. In 1987, Bernard returned to his favorite Lake Okoboji to be close to his brother, the late M. Peter and Izzy Hart and their 12 children in Wahpeton. Bernard enjoyed his F.B.I. (full blooded Irish) heritage and was proud of his family history in Iowa, dating back to the Civil War. He enjoyed sports and was an avid follower of all things political. When FOX News said "they report and you decide", Bernard always did. In 2011, Bernard was voted Valentine's Day King by the residents and staff at the Milford Nursing Center. Bernard thrived there with the attentive care and affection of the staff and his fellow residents. Left to cherish his memory are his friends and his many, many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents and his brothers, James, Fr. John, Joseph, Paul, Larry and M. Peter.