Ernest "Ernie" Michael Bernat

Ernest “Ernie" Michael Bernat was born on November 13, 1949 to parents Mike and Mary (Wosowich) Bernat in Dauphin, Manitoba. He was the youngest of three children – eldest Audrey (Dolhun) and middle sibling Wesley. Ernie lived and worked on the 4th generation farm his entire life. As a young man out of school,  he took a job driving truck at Buckwold’s for about a year. In 1970, he continued to farm and took a second job working for a construction company working to build the high school DRCSS in Dauphin. Here he worked under his future father-in-law, Steve Takacs, who turned out to be the link in Ernie and Bernie meeting, dating, and getting married. On April 19, 1972, they were married in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan and moved to Keld. They started their family with the arrival of Shauna in 1973 and Trevor in 1976. Early married life included joining of Canada’s Riding and Dancing Cossacks which both Mom and Dad were a part of. They made many life long friends and memories with the Cossacks. Ernie even rode with the Cossacks again for their 25th Anniversary year. Ernie balanced life on the farm raising cattle and grain farming- and working for CN Railway until 1999 when he retired at age of 50. 
 
Ernie’s “work hard, play hard” attitude afforded him the time to spend with neighbors and friends when he wasn’t working. He loved to host events and invite his friends and neighbors and co-workers – outdoor cookouts, fishing trips, trail and wagon rides to the Riding Mountain, camping trips, skating parties, or gatherings at the dam, the house, the garage, or shop.  Forever the generous man, he loved to feed, water, and entertain people- which was likely his favorite thing to do. Twenty years ago, Mom and Dad took on building Paradise Valley into the gathering place it is today.  

If Dad said he was going to do something, he did it. And there wasn’t much he didn’t do. Ernie loved working with horses, cooking, dancing, visiting grandkids, hunting, fishing, and being a real BS’er, jokester and prankster. In the later years he and Bernie took trips with good friends and family to Florida, Arizona, Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, and Hawaii. 

Ernie valued his friends and neighbors immensely and considered them his family. He always wanted to help others with their workload if he could help, or just give some good old advice on how to get their work done easier or quicker.  

He leaves behind many cherished life-long friends and neighbors, his sister Audrey, sister-in-laws Stephanie, Nadine, and April, brother-in-law Ray, his companion Irene and children Shauna (husband Zach, grandchildren Samuel, Zoe) and Trevor (wife Katie, grandchildren Madilyne, Holly, Reena). He was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Bernie, in January 2020. 

Ernie died very suddenly on May 3, 2023 on the Bernat farm doing what he loved doing most – working. 
 
He will forever be missed. 

Rest in Peace, Papa. 

A Funeral Service was held for Ernie on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 11:00 am from the Sneath-Strilchuk Family Care Centre in Dauphin, MB.  The service was live streamed .

Interment will take place at a later date.

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Ernie may be made to Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba or Cancer Care Manitoba.

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