Bernard Arthur Whitnable

Whitnable, Bernard Arthur JANESVILLE/MADISON-Bernard Arthur Whitnable, aged 91, most recently of Madison Wis., died Saturday Sept. 13, 2014, after a long battle with heart disease. Bernard was born Oct. 10, 1922, in Fredericksburg, Iowa, the second child of Leo Ernest and Amy Marie (Briggs) Whitnable. Bernard and his seven siblings, Leon (deceased), Beverly, Virginia, Doris, Richard, Ardith, and Gary grew up on the family farm in New Hampton, Iowa. In high school Bernard displayed his intelligence by taking first place in the county math test. After high school, he rode his motorcycle to Ames to attend Iowa State University. In 1943, after a year at the university, Bernard left to join the Navy. He served at Great Lakes Naval Base, where he met Ilean Grace Stocker of Hammond, Ind. He married her on March 7, 1946, in Las Vegas, Nev. They had four children, Richard, Kristine, Karen and Dan. Bernard’s naval career included an assignment on the U.S.S. Orca, part of the observation fleet of the Bikini Atoll atomic bomb test in 1946. After some years as stationmaster of reserve units in Wisconsin and Michigan, he attended submarine school in New Groton, Conn., where he graduated at the top of his class. He served on several submarines, including the U.S.S. Catfish that was later used to film Operation Petticoat. During the Vietnam War, he served on the U.S.S. Perch, stationed at Subic Bay, Philippines. One of the assignments for this boat was to deliver Navy Seals undetected to the coast of Vietnam. Having achieved Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9), the highest enlisted rank, Bernard left the Navy in 1967. He and his family returned to Janesville, Wis., where they had lived some years before. Bernard worked for the City of Janesville and then took a position as Avionics Instructor at Blackhawk Technical College. He was an excellent teacher, well like by his students. After many years of night school, he received a Bachelor’s Degree in vocational education from UW-Stout in 1976. To celebrate this occasion, a pig was burned in his honor and family and friends enjoyed a festive meal. After retirement, Bernard volunteered with the Janesville Little Theater and with the Grumpy Old Men at Rotary Gardens. Upon the death of his wife in 1999, he moved to California to be near two of his sisters. When his health declined, he returned to Wisconsin to be cared for by his eldest son, Richard. Throughout his life Bernard enjoyed gardening. His humorous wit was evident to the end. We are grateful to the staff at Harmony Living Center in Madison, Oak Park Place and Heartland Hospice for surrounding Bernard with a caring community during his last days. Bernard will be buried Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, in the Whitnable family plot in the Alpha Cemetery, Alpha, Iowa. Memorial contributions can be sent to Rotary Gardens, 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI 53545. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420