1926
Bernard
2009
Bernard John Brisson
June 9, 1926 — October 7, 2009
Munising
Bernard "Bernie" Brisson, age 83, of 1489 Washington Street, Munising died under the loving care of his family and North Woods Hospice on Wednesday morning, October 7, 2009. He was born on June 9, 1926 in Munising to the late Edward and Anna (Prue) Brisson. As a young man, Bernie graduated from Sacred Heart School and attended Wm. G. Mather High School. While in school, he worked setting up bowling pins and also on Grand Island making maple syrup for Cleveland Cliffs. On June 20, 1944, he entered into the U.S. Navy and trained in Norfolk, Virginia. Bernie served on the U.S.S. William M. Hobby in the Asiatic Pacific. He was discharged on March 6, 1946 and earned the American Area, WWII Victory, and Asiatic Pacific (with one star) Medals. Following the service, he surveyed all of the Great Lakes with the Corps of Engineers on the Perry. Bernie spent some time in the Detroit area where he frosted cakes for the Omar Baking Company, did dishes for the Busy Bee Café, and unloaded semis for Norwalk Truck Line and Wyandotte Trucking He returned to Munising and worked on the ore boats for the Pittsburgh Steam, American Steamship, and American Steel and Wire Companies. Bernie began employment at Kimberly Clark on February 20, 1951. He worked in the Machine Room and then the Specialties Department as Wax Seal Rewinder helper, Size Maker, Reel Man, Third Hand, and Assistant Operator. On May 15, 1972, he was promoted to Operatory #18 - Saturator and remained at that job until his retirement on January 1, 1988. Bernie had married Donna Jean Morrison on November 29, 1952 and together they raised their three daughters. He was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Church and he loved his Church. One of the highlights in Bernie's life was a family trip to Italy where he was able to see the Pope. Bernie was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion. He enjoyed traveling with Donna and spending their winters down South with their daughters and grandchildren. Family was so important to Bernie - especially his grandchildren. He always passed out quarters to them (even as they grew older, he would supply the washing machines in college), walked the boardwalk at Sand Point together, took trips to the Dairy Queen, spent time at Bush Gardens, went to Miner's Beach, and watched the sunsets on Lake Superior and the Gulf of Mexico together. He spent many years painting the cruise boats and loved watching the boats on the Lake. Bernie loved his truck and never wanted Donna to drive it, and he was a diehard Detroit Tigers and Lions fan.
Bernie is survived by his wife of over fifty-seven years - Donna Brisson of Munising; their daughters - Ann Niemi of Tampa, FL, Sue (John) Burton of Winder, GA, and Lori (Ken) Padyjasek of Longwood, FL; grandchildren - Amanda (Bill) Mosher, Kristen Niemi, Dayna (Scott) Ampe, Nicholas Fisher, and Erin, Scott, and Alyssa Padyjasek; great-grandchildren - Madyson and Mason Ampe; brothers - William (Jan) Brisson of Marquette and Edward Brisson of Bloomington, MN; brothers and sisters-in-law - Richard (Jeannie) Morrison and Robert (Pat) Morrison all of Munising; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Marion Elya, and in-laws Honey and Salty Johnson.
Services for Bernie will be held Monday, October 12, 2009. Visiting time will be from 12:00 noon until 3:30 p.m. at the Bowerman Funeral Home. Father Chris Gardiner will conduct a Mass of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart Church at 4:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. where the Alger County Veterans Council and American Legion Honor Guard will conduct military honors at the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Bernie are requested to the Sacred Heart Church Elevator Fund. His obituary and guestbook may be viewed and signed at www.bowermanfuneralhome.net
Bernard "Bernie" Brisson, age 83, of 1489 Washington Street, Munising died under the loving care of his family and North Woods Hospice on Wednesday morning, October 7, 2009. He was born on June 9, 1926 in Munising to the late Edward and Anna (Prue) Brisson. As a young man, Bernie graduated from Sacred Heart School and attended Wm. G. Mather High School. While in school, he worked setting up bowling pins and also on Grand Island making maple syrup for Cleveland Cliffs. On June 20, 1944, he entered into the U.S. Navy and trained in Norfolk, Virginia. Bernie served on the U.S.S. William M. Hobby in the Asiatic Pacific. He was discharged on March 6, 1946 and earned the American Area, WWII Victory, and Asiatic Pacific (with one star) Medals. Following the service, he surveyed all of the Great Lakes with the Corps of Engineers on the Perry. Bernie spent some time in the Detroit area where he frosted cakes for the Omar Baking Company, did dishes for the Busy Bee Café, and unloaded semis for Norwalk Truck Line and Wyandotte Trucking He returned to Munising and worked on the ore boats for the Pittsburgh Steam, American Steamship, and American Steel and Wire Companies. Bernie began employment at Kimberly Clark on February 20, 1951. He worked in the Machine Room and then the Specialties Department as Wax Seal Rewinder helper, Size Maker, Reel Man, Third Hand, and Assistant Operator. On May 15, 1972, he was promoted to Operatory #18 - Saturator and remained at that job until his retirement on January 1, 1988. Bernie had married Donna Jean Morrison on November 29, 1952 and together they raised their three daughters. He was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Church and he loved his Church. One of the highlights in Bernie's life was a family trip to Italy where he was able to see the Pope. Bernie was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion. He enjoyed traveling with Donna and spending their winters down South with their daughters and grandchildren. Family was so important to Bernie - especially his grandchildren. He always passed out quarters to them (even as they grew older, he would supply the washing machines in college), walked the boardwalk at Sand Point together, took trips to the Dairy Queen, spent time at Bush Gardens, went to Miner's Beach, and watched the sunsets on Lake Superior and the Gulf of Mexico together. He spent many years painting the cruise boats and loved watching the boats on the Lake. Bernie loved his truck and never wanted Donna to drive it, and he was a diehard Detroit Tigers and Lions fan.
Bernie is survived by his wife of over fifty-seven years - Donna Brisson of Munising; their daughters - Ann Niemi of Tampa, FL, Sue (John) Burton of Winder, GA, and Lori (Ken) Padyjasek of Longwood, FL; grandchildren - Amanda (Bill) Mosher, Kristen Niemi, Dayna (Scott) Ampe, Nicholas Fisher, and Erin, Scott, and Alyssa Padyjasek; great-grandchildren - Madyson and Mason Ampe; brothers - William (Jan) Brisson of Marquette and Edward Brisson of Bloomington, MN; brothers and sisters-in-law - Richard (Jeannie) Morrison and Robert (Pat) Morrison all of Munising; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Marion Elya, and in-laws Honey and Salty Johnson.
Services for Bernie will be held Monday, October 12, 2009. Visiting time will be from 12:00 noon until 3:30 p.m. at the Bowerman Funeral Home. Father Chris Gardiner will conduct a Mass of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart Church at 4:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. where the Alger County Veterans Council and American Legion Honor Guard will conduct military honors at the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Bernie are requested to the Sacred Heart Church Elevator Fund. His obituary and guestbook may be viewed and signed at www.bowermanfuneralhome.net
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