Bernie Dart

Bernie Dart passed away unexpectedly on March 6, 2025 of a sudden major stroke at Marshfield Medical Center. His wife, four children and their spouses, as well as some grandchildren, were fortunate to be with him during his last day with prayers, scripture, some of his favorite music, love, and compassion.

Bernie was born amidst a very cold winter storm in Sugar Camp on Feb. 16, 1941 and also left this world during one of the worst winter storms of this season. He was the son of the late Leslie and Frances Dart. He grew up on the family farm with his three older siblings and two younger siblings. He attended Sugar Camp Grade School followed by Three Lakes High School, where he met his wife to be, Joanne Godleski. Bernie went on to college at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1963.

He accepted a teaching position at the Rhinelander Junior High School sixth-grade and later seventh-grade science. During this time, he served as the basketball and football coach. After teaching 10 years, he was offered a position at the Coca-Cola company as general manager and later regional manager for 21 years. He spent the last years of his working career with Pitlik & Wick as an estimator. He retired in 2005.

Bernie was destined to be a leader throughout his life, as he was always being selected as the chairman, president, secretary or treasurer of many committees and organizations beginning with eight-grade graduation speaker, high school class president, and later Rhinelander Teachers Association president, Lions Club officer, president and treasurer of the Harshaw Sports Club, Oneida County Civil Service Commission, Oneida County board member, Nicolet College Foundation president, treasurer of Immanuel Lutheran Church, and jury foreman. He was an active, caring member of his Rhinelander and Oneida County community.

Bernie loved spending time with the family at their house on Crescent Lake, the hunting shack in Sugar Camp and fishing throughout the Northwoods. He and Joanne enjoyed traveling around the United States, including two trips to Hawaii, as well as South America and Paris, France. He also loved his many hunting trips out West with his friends, sons, and beloved hunting dog, Kotah. He was an avid stock investor and enjoyed learning about the global financial markets. His early love of sports began in grade school and continued throughout his life, as a high school basketball point guard and captain, football quarterback and captain, and a lifelong Packer and Badger fan.

Bernie always had a witty sense of humor. As Joanne leaned in to give him a final kiss goodbye before he headed to Marshfield in the ambulance, he quipped, “I usually get $2 for that!” He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joanne, his children: Julie, David, John (Laurie) and Daniel (Jennifer), grandchildren: Amanda (Rod Olson), Emily (Nick Dornseif), Alex (Heather), Samantha (Garrett Smith), Jenna (Tyrone), Ryan, Brittney (Eric Wallet), Nicki (Connor Davidson), Jayden, and Andrew, great-grandchildren: Ben, Cameron, Grant (Gretchen) Olson, Carter Olson, Sydney and Tenley Dornseif, Scarlett and Wrenley, Rylan, Beckham, and Emelynn Smith, and his sisters, Karen (Dan Stroede) and Peg (Earl Thomas) and sisters-in-law, Carol Dart and Betty Mae Dart, as well as many nieces and nephews, adopted dog Extra, and special friends.

Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Dennis and Elwood, his sister Nancy Opie, niece Ellen Marie Opie-Williams, and nephew Kenneth Dart.

A visitation for Bernie will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 9 to 11 a.m. with memorial services following at 11 a.m., all at the Carlson Funeral Home. You may leave your private condolences for the Dart family at www.calsonfh.com. The Carlson Funeral Home (715-369-1414) is serving the Dart family.