Bernard Evan Zuercher

Bernard (Bernie) E. Zuercher, age 61, went to be with the Lord on March 3, 2023.

On Sept. 26, 1961, Bernie was welcomed into the big farmhouse of Ellis and Mary Louise Zuercher in Kidron, Ohio. He was the sixth of seven children,: David, Penni, Candace, Tobi, LaRue, and a younger brother, Ian.

Kidron Mennonite Church played a large part in his life. The family was at church Wednesdays, Sunday morning, Sunday night, and other times in between. Bernie joined the church by baptism in 1972.

The whole family sang in the children’s choir and the adult choir. At age 11,  Bernie auditioned for a part in the Opera. He sang a soprano solo in an opera at age 11. His high school scrapbook is filled with solo and ensemble awards. The Zuercher family often sang the special music in church.

With a full ride for voice, Bernie traveled to Mexico for a singing tour, sang for a season at Disney, and donned tights for Madrigals. After marriage, Bernie was in a quartet (Three Honest Men and a Lawyer) that sang throughout the county. In 2007, he donned tights again and sang in the Romeo and Juliet opera in Wichita. He sang for 15 years with the men’s gospel group, Hearts 4 Him.

Bernie’s scrapbook is also filled with awards and recognition for baseball (he was a catcher), soccer, and golf. He continued to play these sports until he injured his knee. He loved to played golf, coaching one year at Hesston College, and playing tournaments, where he actually made more than he spent! He continued to play in the local league for the rest of his life.

Being married to Marcia and raising Micaela and Garrett were his greatest joy and satisfaction. He was an expert at putting babies to sleep. With his family he enjoyed traveling, attending musical events, and spending hours in the stands watching all the sporting events. He loved spending time around the table after a good meal, teasing and telling stories and laughing. After the kids left, he and Marcia enjoyed camping, playing cards, and inviting friends to “fire therapy” around the backyard fire pit.

He began his carpentry career after high school in Florida. Frustrated with the pursuit of money, he began volunteering at Lakewood Retreat in Brooksville, building a motel. He and Marcia had a campground romance and married the next year. He started his own carpentry business and when they moved to Kansas, he continued to do carpentry. He loved finish carpentry, but he also created stained glass and furniture and fancy front door entries. Designing spaces with the homeowner and then seeing it accomplished gave him great satisfaction. During the last few years, he began building guitars, something he wanted to do as a retirement hobby.

In June of 2022, he was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer. His greatest desire was to be faithful and bring glory to God during his trial. His testimony continued to be praising and trusting the goodness of God to the end of his life.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a memorial donation be made for funeral costs.