Photo No. 2445

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Bernard (Bernie) W. Wiseman, age 82, loving husband and father of three children, left this earth to be with the Lord on August, 20, 2019.

Bernie was born on September 13, 1936 in Ogallala, Nebraska to Berget and Tressie (Harris) Wiseman. He received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1968, and continued his post-graduate studies at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. On May 30, 1957, he married Berniece Epp of Lincoln, Nebraska. They raised two sons, Kent and Craig, and one daughter, Allison.

Bernie came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior when he was 8 years old at the Berean Church in Ogallala, Nebraska.

He graduated from Ogallala High School in 1954. He patriotically served 2 years in the Navy with an Honorable Discharge.

He met his beautiful wife at Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Nebraska and immediately fell in love. It didn't hurt that both of their nicknames were Bernie. Friends gave them nicknames like, "Bernie & Ditto" or "Bernie 1 & Bernie 2" or "Bernie He & Bernie She".

After they were married, they lived in Lincoln, Nebraska where their first son, Kent, was born on June 7, 1958.

The family of three then moved to Denver, Colorado, where two more children filled their happy home. Craig was born on June 10, 1961 and Allison was born on January 7, 1965. From Denver the family of five made a quick stay in Los Angeles, California, before returning to Denver for 3 more years. Then it was on to Bernardsville, New Jersey for 2 years. The next stop was 2 years in Tampa, Florida with the next 4 years in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Then, finally settling in Beaumont, Texas for 43 years. They spent Bernie's final year and a half near Austin, Texas.

Bernie's childhood passion was marbles. He was the Ogallala Marble Champion and went on to become the State of Nebraska Marble Champion. He was also a Boy Scout and was in the Ogallala Glee Club.

As he grew older, he became an avid car enthusiast. In high school, he earned the nickname "Hot Rod" from his unbeatable racing reputation. Bernie won several trophies in car contests in Nebraska and later with his two sons he built a Formula V racing car. Their team of three was named "Wiseman Team Racing", with Bernie and Craig as the mechanics and Kent as the driver. Later in life, he restored a 1948 Dodge Sedan and a 1967 Mustang through the Mustang Club of SE Texas in Beaumont. Among his many first place wins, he was named Champion of Mustang's 25th anniversary show in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Bernie's other passion was caring for his pet dogs. Bernie had too many dogs for his family members to recount, but he was always adopting dogs, both from other families and from the Humane Society. It's hard to know whose life was brightened more by the other, his large, loving dogs or Bernie himself.

After retiring in 1995, Bernie volunteered his time as an advocate for children at CASA -- Court Appointed Special Advocates. During his years as a CASA volunteer, he was awarded the Outstanding Diligent Search Investigator three years in a row.

Bernie also volunteered his time visiting disabled children at the Hughen Center in Port Arthur, Texas.

Besides cars, dogs and advocating for children, Bernie spent much of his retired time repairing his home after several hurricanes and floods. He also enjoyed researching his genealogy. One of his lasting legacies is leaving his children with a house full of boxes of his genealogy work all the way back to the year 1065 AD.

Bernie is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Bonnie Jean Friesen (Boerne, TX). He is survived by his wife Berniece, his three children, Kent (Houston, TX), Craig & Teresa (daughter-in-law)(Houston, TX), and Allison (Georgetown, TX), five grandchildren: Heather Sanchez (Houston, TX), David Wiseman, (Houston, TX), Amber Cessac (Georgetown, TX), Zachary Wiseman (Houston, TX), Mathew Pierce (Portland, Oregon), eight great-grandchildren: Destiny, Damien, Dominic Sanchez (Houston, TX), Eden, Noelle, Selah, Lovelyn, Marielle Cessac (Georgetown, TX), his sister Dottie Graham (Gering, Nebraska), and cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A visitation will be held Saturday, August 24 @ 2:00pm with the celebration of life service to follow at Ramsey Funeral Home 5600 Williams Dr. Georgetown, Texas. His Burial ceremony will take place in Ogallala, Nebraska on Tuesday, August 27 at Draucker Funeral Home 700 North Spruce Street at 10:00am.