Anna Margaretha Bernhard
May 14, 1931 - July 26, 2010
Obituary
Anna Margaretha Korber Bernhard passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Monday, July 26, 2010 at the age of 79. She will be dearly missed by her family and the many friends who knew her. Her strong spirit and compassionate heart touched everyone. Anna was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, May 14, 1931. After the war she worked as an administrative clerk for the Dutch Army Engineers. Her family immigrated to America in the early 1950’s. Anna found work at the Dutch company, Internatio-Rotterdam, in San Francisco. In 1955 Anna met her husband, James Jim Bernhard, in San Mateo, California. Jim was hired by the Boeing Company, and the couple settled in the Seattle area. In the early 1960’s they had a home built in Tukwila where they remained to the present time. Anna managed Olive’s East, a European-style coffee shop, in Southcenter from 1977 to 1985. She was an avid reader all her life and an active member of the South End Holland America Club.
Anna exemplified the spirit of volunteerism through her selflessness, service, and direct contributions to many organizations in the Tukwila community, including Tukwila schools, the Tukwila Arts Festival Committee, the Tukwila Tomorrow Committee, and the American Cancer Society. She was a member of and often chaired the Tukwila Civil Service Commission for 34 years. For nearly 50 years she regularly attended and contributed to Tukwila city council meetings. Anna was also active in the Cascade River Community Club where she and her husband built a vacation residence in 1972. For her dedication to making life in Tukwila a positive experience for others, she was proclaimed 2010 Treasure of Tukwila by the mayor and council.
Anna is survived by her loving husband Jim, her two children, Theodore Paul and Sandra Joan, brothers Ferdinand and Marinus, sisters Antonia Wydeveld and Maria Toepfer, son-in-law Franklin Peale, daughter-in-law Lynn, and granddaughter Anne Peale. A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, August 1st, 2010 at BONNEY-WATSON Washington Memorial, 16445 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA, 206 242-1787. Her family suggests remembrances be made to Highline Hospice or the American Cancer Society. Please sign the guestbook at www.bonneywatson.com.
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Mrs Anna Bernhart. I have known Anna for many years during the time I worked at the Tukwila Library. She was an avid reader and supporter of the library. Her opinions and support are needed elsewhere and I’m sure she will be the one to give it to any council they will have where she is. She and her family have been one of the many roots in the history of the City Of Tukwila and she will be missed greatly. My heart goes out to her family at this time.
Lieve tante Anna, doet u de groeten aan mijn moeder en oma, uw tante Maartje?
Lieve familie, heel veel sterkte gewenst met dit grote verlies.
Please let our hearts and prayers be with you.
May God be with you.
After 20 years of working with Anna on the civil service commission, it will be hard to continue without her engaging presence at each meeting. My heart goes out to her special family. We are all very saddened by her sudden and unexpected loss. She will truly live on in my memories as a great volunteer, person, and friend.
Dear Taunta Anna forever in our hearts. You are one special woman. We will never forget you… To the family our thoughts and prayers are with all of you… We love you all very much… Kimberlie and Mitchel
Jim and Family….We were so sorry to hear about Anna. She will be sorely missed by family and friends. Our memories of Anna are while volunteering for the election committee at Cascade River Park. It was a join working with her. Our thoughts are with you at this time. Skip & Ron Leitner
To Jim and Family – – So sorry to hear about Anna’s illness and passing. She will truly be missed as my neighbor in the park. Such a grand lady!! Come up soon, neighbor Jim. . .
Cascade River Park will miss Anna. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.
Anna was always a powerhouse of conviction and caring of her community, be it Tukwila or Cascade River Park!