Sioux City - Bernard Uhl, 93, of Sioux City died on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at his home
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Monsignor Roger Augustine will officiate. Burial will be at a later date in California. Visitation will be 9 a.m. until service time Friday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Larkin Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Bernard was born on Aug. 5, 1918, in Sioux City, the son of Alois and Edna (Fish) Uhl. Bernard was raised on a farm in the Climbing Hill, Iowa, area and graduated from Climbing Hill High School.
In 1947, he married Lucille Elizabeth Kee in Sioux City. After they were married the couple drove to California in a Model A car. They settled in the bay area, living in Mountain View and then moving to Sunnyvale. He worked as a carpenter in the bay area until the moved to Long Beach, Calif. in the mid 1960s. He worked as supervisor at Long Beach Naval Ship Yards. He then became a licensed general contractor and went to work for the City of Long Beach as a senior street engineer inspector. He retired after working there for 20 years. After he retired, he took an active part in raising his three boys. Lucille died in April 2000 in Long Beach. In December 2002, he was joined by the sacrament of matrimony to Grayce Smith. The couple returned to Iowa around four years ago.
Bernard traveled to Europe in 2002 visiting and seeing many religious artifacts and paintings. He also enjoyed his pets, dogs and desert tortoises. He was a humble man who would put other people's needs before his and was generous with his time and resources to others in need. He remained committed to his faith and his beliefs all of his life. He was well liked by all and will be truly missed. The most important part of his life was the time he spent with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Grayce of Sioux City; three sons, Stan and Amy of Weiser, Idaho, Brian and Julie of Corona, Calif., Bruce of Orange County, Calif.; grandchildren, Justin, Cody, Brandon, Austin, and Chelsea Nicole Uhl; a great-grandchild, Haley; a sister, Ruth Nice of Salem, Ore.; and many nieces and nephews including, Linda Dominowski, Kathy Hart and Sandi O'Brien.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lucille; and eight brothers and sisters.
A memorial has been established in his name for St. Jude's Children’s Hospital.