Bernard "Bernie" Ach

In Memory of
Bernard "Bernie" Ach

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Friend, Nebraska with Fr. Lawrence Stoley officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. A Prayer Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home in Friend. Visitation will be on Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Friend. Memorials have been established and may be directed in care of the family.

Bernard "Bernie" Joseph Ach was born June 10, 1936, in Milligan, Nebraska to Joseph and Blanche (Fritz) Ach, the first of two sons and passed away Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at the Friend Manor in Friend at the age of 78 years, 8 months and 1 day. As a young boy, his family moved to Friend and he attended Friend Public School and graduated with the class of 1954. He furthered his education at the University of Nebraska and received his law degree in 1960. He was united in marriage to Margaret Kraus on June 15, 1957 and to this union three daughters were born, Deborah, Donna and Dineen. He was later blessed with a second marriage to Sharon (McGinnis) Haase on August 11, 1968 in Belleville, KS and two more daughters were added to his family, Kathie and Laurie.

After graduation, he joined his father, Joseph, in the Ach law firm. Bernie served as Saline County Attorney from 1962 to 1970. He continued practicing law in Friend until his retirement in 2004. His community involvement included serving as the City Attorney for Friend and other area communities. He was also the attorney for the Friend School District.

Bernie was active in the State and National Bar Associations, Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited. At a young age he taught himself the art of taxidermy as he enjoyed hunting, fishing and other activities that brought him out into nature. Bernie loved polka music and taught himself to play the accordion. He also golfed in his spare time. Bernie collected decoys, and carved and painted decoys. Bernie started "Wildfowl History, LLC" a business for collecting, trading and selling various hunting, fishing and wildlife memorabilia, including hunting decoys, calendars and many other items. He spent many hours driving by local wetlands to assess the habitat conditions. In 2005, Bernie was awarded the Lifetime Resident Award from the Friend Chamber of Commerce. He also donated some of the land where the lake is located to develop the Spreeman Ach Memorial Park.

Bernie was a man with a strong love of family and his community and of a good joke. He loved hunting pheasant and ducks and spent many enjoyable hours with his special dog, P.D. Bernie especially enjoyed taking family and friends to his cabin.

Bernie is survived by his wife, Sharon, Friend, daughters and sons-in-law, Kathie and Mark Hiatt, Lincoln, Laurie and Tomonori Nagata, Lincoln, Donna and Matthew Hansen, Dorchester, Dineen and Greg Vlasnik, Crete, six grandchildren and spouses, Evan Hansen, Phoenix, AZ, Andrea and Brant Pracheil, Dorchester, Jessica Hansen and Blake Hansen, both of Dorchester, Aaron and Kim Vlasnik, Lincoln, Joel and Amber Vlasnik, Lincoln, five great-grandchildren, Avery, Hazel and Jaxson Vlasnik, Lincoln, Lillian and Aubrey Pracheil, Dorchester, brother and sister-in-law, Howard and Marilyn Ach, Friend, sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Carole McGinnis, Shreveport, LA, Eleanor Benes, Valparaiso, Dennis and Lorie Kraus, Grand Island, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Margaret in 1966, his daughter, Deborah in 1988, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Shirley Ach, Stephen Benes, Bill and Edith Rezac, Frank Kraus, Darrell McGinnis, parents-in-law, Earl and Evelyn McGinnis and Emil and Josephine Kraus, and his special dog, P.D.