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Obituary: Bernard Jay Anderko

December 1, 1941 ~ February 2, 2022

Bernard Jay Anderko, 80, of Sturgeon Bay, died Wednesday morning, February 2, 2022 at the Pete and Jelaine Horton Skilled Nursing and Hospice Care Center at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay.

He was born December 1, 1941 in South Fork, PA, the son of Joseph Jack Anderko and Eva E. (Smith) Anderko. Bernie attended high school in Pennsylvania. He served his country with the United States Army for four years before joining the United States Navy as a Seabee in the Naval Reserves. He was stationed in Swan Island in Portland, OR. Bernie attended college on and off throughout his life in Illinois, Oregon, and California. He went to work as an electronics technician for Intel, the microprocessor manufacturing company, in Beaverton, OR in the 1970s and remained with Intel until the 1990s.

Bernie married Diana L. Burda in River Grove, IL on March 9, 1968. The United States Air Force had a need for technicians, and so he left the Seabees and went to work for Portland, OR International Airport in electronics, as a reservist in the United States Air Force.

Bernie liked boxing and karate and did a lot of traveling. He did a lot of work with and studied with the Native American sweat lodges. Bernie was a lifelong learner, always searching for knowledge. With his love for traveling, he saw the world. Bernie wasn’t anchored to any one particular place. He went overseas to study yoga in India and eventually returned to California and taught yoga there. Bernie moved back to Oregon. He helped with the construction wiring of the light rail system in Portland. In his semi-retirement, Bernie continued teaching yoga. He would take the (Portland) city bus and train to his favorite coffee shop and enjoyed conversing with people along the way.

Bernie moved to Door County, WI in February of 2018 and resided in Sturgeon Bay where his son, Kevin, was living. He eventually moved into Anna’s Healthcare CBRF in Sturgeon Bay. Bernie enjoyed spending time at Sunflower Cottage (part of the Sunshine House) while his son was at work and occasionally while he was residing at Anna’s. When Bernie’s health declined, he moved into the Pete and Jelaine Horton Skilled Nursing and Hospice Care Center in Sturgeon Bay.

Bernie will be missed by his sons, Kevin Anderko of Sturgeon Bay and Steven (Alex) Anderko of Fayetteville, NY; his sons’ mother, Diana Burda of Sturgeon Bay, with whom he shared over 12 years of marriage; former daughter-in-law, Kerri Ann Anderko of Sturgeon Bay; grandchildren, Kody, Jake, and Kate Anderko; three siblings, James (Celiana) Anderko of Alexandria, VA, Joseph Anderko of Portland, OR, and Rita Rae Cecchett of Pennsylvania; sisters-in-law, Karen Anderko of Altoona, PA; nieces and nephews; and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Terry and David Anderko; brother-in-law, Boyce Cecchett and other relatives.

No services will be held.

Memorials may be given in Bernie’s honor for the Sunshine House (55 W. Yew St., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 OR www.sunshineresources.org/donate).

A heartfelt thanks goes out to the staffs of Sunflower Cottage/Sunshine House, Anna’s Healthcare, and the skilled nursing facility staff for the wonderful, compassionate care you gave to our father.”

Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC in Sturgeon Bay are assisting the Anderko family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Bernard may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.