Bernard Joseph Carey, 78, Austin

Published 10:49 am Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Bernard Joseph Carey, 78, of Austin, Minn., died July 21, 2013, at Sacred Heart Care Center after a long battle with Parkinsons disease.

Bernard Carey

Bernard was born on Dec. 25, 1934, in Austin to Horace and Cecilia (Thome) Carey. He grew up in Austin and graduated from St. Augustine High School in 1954.

On Nov. 16, 1957, he married the love of his life, Gayle Kloberdanz at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin. They had three daughters, Kimberly, Mary and Shelly. The couple lived in Austin their entire married life, where Bernard “Bernie” worked at Red Owl Foods, Austin Public Schools and Hormel Foods.

Bernie was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin.

He enjoyed decorating at Christmas time. Bernie was also known as Frosty the Snowman and loved to entertain the children. Each year he would put up an elaborate display. He would go to schools, nursing homes, Christmas in the City, parades in Red Wing and many other activities as Frosty. He spent most of his time building new things for his Christmas display. Bernie loved his grandchildren and tried to make them happy all of the time. He enjoyed making people smile, and he had a smile that melted your heart.

Survivors include his wife, Gayle; daughters, Kimberly (Jerome) Grdina, Naperville, Ill., Mary Carey, Austin, Shelly (Michael) Weinmann, Austin; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; five sisters, Charlene Young, Austin, Cecelia (Tom) Winjum, Albert Lea, Minn., Mary (Marvin) Winkels, LeRoy, Minn., Velma (John) Strange, Fremont, Neb., Rosemary (Keith) Price, Rose Creek, Minn.; a brother, David (Mary) Carey, Brooklyn Park, Minn.; many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Horace and Michael; three sisters, Margaret, Magdalene and Helen; a great-granddaughter, Cloe; three brothers-in-law.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 26, 2013, at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Paul Nelson officiating. There will be a 4:30 p.m. wake service and a 6:45 p.m. rosary on Thursday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to Michael J. Fox Parkinsons Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777. Condolences may be left online at www.mayerfh.com.