Bernard "Bernie" Lee Schreck

Bernard “Bernie” Schreck: July 17, 1949 – July 13, 2021
Bernie left his earthly body behind on July 13, 2021, when his spirit joined family and friends in heaven.
Bernie was born on July 17, 1949, in Elizabeth, Illinois to Doug and Hazel Schreck. He attended schools in Elizabeth, Stockton and Warren Illinois. He graduated from Elizabeth High School in 1967 and enlisted in the Navy that same year. He served most of his time as a Bosun’s Mate aboard the destroyer USS St. Paul. After his discharge from the Navy, he returned to Illinois but spent a few years going between Illinois and Washington state. He eventually settled in Chehalis Washington where he resided until his death. He attended Centralia College earning an Associates of Arts degree in Forestry.
In his growing-up years he worked on farms around the northern Illinois area bailing hay, milking, feeding, etc. As an adult, he worked at a variety of jobs including being a “duck trucker,” fighting fire for DNR, building ambulances and production work. Until his cancer diagnosis, he was custodian at St. John’s Lutheran Church where he was also a member.
Bernie was known for his silly sense of humor and always seemed to have a quick comeback or funny quip. He loved to tease his nieces and nephews and they loved him all the more for it. We were all hit with one of his punch lines at one time or another. He was also known as being incredibly kind, especially towards children. 
In his early years, he played baseball and softball, playing Little League baseball and softball when he was in the Navy aboard the USS St. Paul. He did a lot of hunting (squirrels, some deer) and fishing (all kinds). 
He loved watching football! He was a fan of the San Francisco 49ers growing up, then switched to Chicago Bears. We all knew him as a dedicated Seahawks fan (Go Hawks!).
He volunteered as a cabin leader at Camp Bethel in Hoquiam, and worked and volunteered as a cook, maintenance worker and whatever was asked of him. During his first year of being a cabin leader, he noticed that during mail call, there were a lot of sad faces on kids that didn’t receive mail. He took it upon himself to hand-write a note to every kid in camp just so they could have mail too. That’s the kind of thing Bernie would do!
Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, Douglas and Hazel Schreck and niece Kelly Schreck. He is survived by his brother, Bob (Dorothy) Schreck, Stockton IL; sisters Diane Foley and Linda Lowery, Chehalis WA; nephews and nieces Rob (Caryn) Foley, Rhonda (Mike) Morgan, Ryan Foley and Renell (Joe) Norquist, Chehalis WA; Mike (Jamie) Schreck, Colorado Springs, CO, Cammie (Dave) Ringoen, Madison, WI, Mike (Lori) Lowery, Leesport, PA, Shawn (Miriam) Lowery, Portersville, PA, and Erin (Nick) Nelson, Wenatchee, WA; fifteen great nieces and nephews; one great-great niece and one great-great nephew. Bernie also leaves behind a rich list of friends! 
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Chehalis, WA on August 7, 2021, at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow.
Bernie would want you to know, “I’m so glad you all got to see me!”

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