Charles Edward Bern

January 23, 1947 - November 16, 2017

Charles Edward “Pap-Paw” Bern, 70, of Morgantown, passed away Thursday, November 16, 2017 at his home, after a courageous battle with kidney disease and diabetes. Charlie was born January 23, 1947 in Clarksburg, West Virginia to the late Edward and Blanche (Marshok) Bern. He graduated from Kingwood High School in 1964 and attended Morgantown Business College. He served his country for eleven years as a sergeant first class in the West Virginia Army National Guard. On January 3, 1975 Charlie married his wife, Karen, and together they shared 42 years of marriage. Charlie worked 26 years for Allegheny Energy at Fort Martin Power Plant and retired as a shift supervisor. A dedicated member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Morgantown, he served the church as the Coordinator of the Stewardship Ministry for several years. Charlie enjoyed volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, and was also the current secretary for the St. Lukes’s Knights of Columbus Chapter 16530. Charlie had a true devotion to the Holy Rosary, which he loyally prayed daily. Although he wore many hats, his most treasured past time was the time spent in his beloved garden. As his family grew, so did his garden, until it encompassed almost the entire backyard. His love for God and family was physically manifested in the garden he grew every year. Charlie delighted in providing food to his close neighbors, friends, and family as well as preserving, freezing and canning. The food that he provided was an extension of his love for God’s earth, family and friends. He truly loved passing on his knowledge and love for gardening and preserving to his children and grandchildren, as he worked side by side with them in the garden. Surviving is his wife Karen (Nickler) Bern; three children, Kelly Reed and husband Joe of Cleveland, OH, Marc Huchette and wife Donna, of Newburg, Oregon, and Charlie Bern, Jr. of Middletown, Maryland; eight grandchildren, Jessica Roberson and husband Gavan, as well as, Isaac, Sophia and Dylan Reed all of Cleveland, Hannah and Marchal Huchette of Newburg, and Gabriel and Eli Bern of Middleton; and his brother, Thomas J. Bern and wife Debbie, of Kingwood, West Virginia. Friends will be received in the Richard R. Herod Funeral Home, Point Marion, PA on Monday from 2- 4 and 6 – 8 PM, and Tuesday, in St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Cheat Lake, from 10 until 11:00 AM, the hour of a funeral mass, with Fr. Carlos Melocoton as celebrant. Interment follows in Zion Cemetery, Cheat Lake, with military honors accorded at the graveside. Parish Rosary will be recited Monday at 8:00 PM in the funeral home. Memorials may be offered to the St. Ursula Food Pantry, P.O. Box 18, Pursglove, WV 26546, or Habitat for Humanity 1825 Earl L Core Rd, Morgantown, WV 26505.