Heaven has gained a gentleman and scholar, faithful husband, loving father. Bernard J. Stackhouse, 91, passed away Thursday April 4th, 2013, with his family by his side. Son of Earl and Agnes Goldsworthy-Stackhouse, Bernie was born on August 27, 1921, in Beloit, WI. At age 17, he left home to find his way in life. Pumping gas for $1.25 a day held no promise of a future and he joined the US Navy on October 3, 1939. This would be the first of many good decisions he made during his 91 years of life. It was a naval base in Cleveland, Ohio that he met Mary Catherine Essick, a beautiful Navy Wave from Spooner, WI. They married on October 6, 1944, in Norfolk, Virginia and spent the next 13 months apart while Bernie completed his service aboard ship as a Chief Pharmacist Mate. While serving on the USS Tolland, he was credited with saving the lives of 21 injured Marines hoisting them aboard, one by one, while the ship was underway. The ship and crew would have been sitting ducks had the Captain stopped their ship to rescue the wounded. Bernie succeeded in bringing them all aboard without losing a single soul. On November 9, 1945, Bernie was honorably discharged as an E7 Chief Petty Officer and he and Catherine began their life in Madison, WI, she a Cosmetologist, and he a student. In 1949, Bernie graduated Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin as a Registered Pharmacist. It was during his final exams that their first son Mark was born. Several years later Michael and Mary were born in Tomah, and Karen in Eau Claire and for the next 40 years they enjoyed many memories in the house on Hoover Avenue. Bernie worked in retail pharmacy for most of his career often working seven days a week in small drug stores around Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls. His last 18 years were spent with The Hospital Sisters Health System first at St Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls, and then later at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire retiring in 1982 as the Director of Pharmacy. Bernie and Catherine spent their time in retirement enjoying a simple life, dancing at the Moose, playing cards with good friends, traveling, and enjoying their family. Catherine's health began to fail and Bernie cared for her until her death in 1996, they were married for 52 years. He married his second wife Darlene Price and for 15 years they enjoyed many good times with friends and family. Preceding Bernie in death were his parents, Agnes and Earl; his brothers, Robert and Donald; Catherine's brothers, Robert, Leo, and John; her sisters, Ella, Evelyn, and Dorothy; and his granddaughter, Corina Price. Bernie is survived by his sister, June Lynch; his children, Mark Stackhouse (Wanda), Michael Stackhouse (Tammy), Mary Caldwell (Steve), Karen Preston (Chris); Bernie's wife, Darlene; her children, Steven Price (Kathy), Bonnie Levas (Ernie), Kay Hartwig (David), and Dennis Price; grandchildren Michael (Amy), Christopher, Carissa, Jeffery (Amy), Jessica (Kurt), Megan, Andrew, Cassandra (Luke), Steven, Nicole, Ernie (Stephanie), Michelle (Brad), Jonathan, David; great grandchildren, Mollie, Makenzie, Nick, Brett, Liam, Lucy, Cross, Carmine, Mariella, Rafaela, and Elias; many nieces and nephews; and his cats Molly and Tinkerbelle. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, April 8, 2013, at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, 814 First Ave. Eau Claire, with a Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 1712 Highland Ave. Eau Claire with Fr. Eugene A. Klink and Msgr. Edmund Klimek officiating. Visitation will also be one hour prior to Mass at church. Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Eau Claire with Military Rites conducted by the American Legion Post 53. The family wishes to thank Dr. Obaid, Peggy, and the entire staff of Eau Claire Medical Clinic for their extraordinary care. They brought a dear sweet man through many medical struggles. Thank you to our special friends at St Joseph's Hospice for their compassionate and respectful care, their countless words of encouragement and their hugs. Thank you Jean Weggle for your guidance when we needed it most. Bernie and his family wish to give very special thanks to Bernie's angels Mariah, Rosie, Kristi, Becky, Alison, Dala, Kerrie, Kay, and Art for the exceptional care and love they gave him in his last months of life. You will never be forgotten and will always be a part of our family. As Bernie would say, "Swell elegant my angels pass the Sunchips". Memorials are preferred to The Healing Place of Sacred Heart Hospital, The St. Francis Food Pantry, or the Eau Claire Humane Association.

Service Information

Visitation

Monday, April 8 2013 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral & Cremation Services 814 First Avenue Eau Claire WI 54703

Prayer Service

Monday, April 8 2013 6:30 PM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral & Cremation Services 814 First Avenue Eau Claire WI 54703

Visitation

Tuesday, April 9 2013 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 1712 Highland Ave. Eau Claire WI 54701

Mass of Christian Burial

Tuesday, April 9 2013 11:00 AM

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 1712 Highland Ave. Eau Claire WI 54701