Patricia M. Bernau, age 71, of Preston, Minn., passed away at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Marys Campus, Rochester, Minn., on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, with her daughter by her side.
A public visitation will be held for Patricia from 4-7 p.m., on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Preston, Minn. Funeral service will be held the following day, Thursday, June 17, 2021, at 11 a.m., at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Wykoff, Minn., with Pastor Michael Harman officiating. Burial will be in St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery.
Patricia was born on October 3, 1949, in Harmony, Minn., to Frank and Delores (Blagsvedt) Kiehne. After she graduated high school, she was united in marriage to Ralph Bernau; they would have celebrated 50 years together on June 18, 2021. To this union seven children were born.
In addition to raising seven children, Patricia worked at the Victory Café, the Preston Bowling Alley, the Preston Hotel and the sandwich shop. She enjoyed spending her extra time going to garage sales and finding good deals, playing games, especially Monopoly, Yahtzee and cards. After her retirement, Patricia kept herself busy with talking to people on the phone, walking uptown and chatting with people, and watching her favorite soap opera, Days of Our Lives. She had a special place in her heart for all her Sunday school children, the kids she babysat, and her favorite singer, Elvis. Above all, Patricia loved spending time with her family, laughing and enjoying potlucks with them.
Patricia is survived by her husband Ralph, children John Bernau of Kasson, Minn., Mike (Sandy) Bernau of Racine, Minn., Tim (Amanda) Bernau of Surprise, Ariz., Frank (Tabba) Bernau of Kasson, Minn., Jennifer Wrought of Rochester, Minn., Eric (Jessica) Bernau of Pine Island, Minn., and Neil Bernau of Rochester, Minn.; 11 grandchildren, siblings Gary (Marisol) Kiehne of Santa Rosa, Calif., Diane (Oscar) Armstrong of Harmony, Minn., Mike (Mary) Kiehne of Decorah, Iowa, Mark (Karin) Kiehne of Etteirick, Wis., and Steve (Mary Jo) Kiehne of Elgin, Minn.
She is preceded in death by her parents and son-in-law Michael Wrought.