Bernard A. Levine, 85

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Bernard A. “Bernie” Levine, 85, of Chatham died on Friday, March 22, 2019, at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.

Vistation will be held at Bisch and Son Funeral Home, 505 E. Allen in Springfield, on Thursday, March 28, from 10 a.m. until the time of service starting at 11 a.m. Rabbi Datz and Rabbi Marks will be presiding. Following the service he will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield.

Mr. Levine was born on Nov. 24, 1933, to David and Ethel (Oberman) Levine in Chicago,  and he spent most of his adult life in Springfield and Chatham. On Dec. 19, 1975, he married the love of his life Grace (Brown) Levine in Springfield, and she survives.

Mr. Levine proudly served as a gunner in the U.S. Navy from 1952 - 1956 aboard the USS Gurke DD-783 alongside his brother Sheldon during the Korean conflict.

Mr. Levin was employed for many years by John Hancock Insurance and later the State of Illinois, Department of Insurance, where he retired. He was a member of Temple B’Rith Sholom of Springfield, Chatham VFW Post 4763 and the Tin Can Sailors, a National Association of Destroyer Veterans.

Mr. Levine loved to fish with his brothers and friends in local waters and Canada. He and his wife loved Levine family vacations and traveling in the U.S., Mexico and Europe. An avid sports enthusiast, he loved the Cubs, Bears and University of Illinois, and he frequently attended local high school sporting events.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by children of Bernard Levine and their mother, Betty Pappas, including daughter, Dana (husband John Wells) Levine of Springfield and son, Douglas (partner Calvin Yeung) Levine  of Los Angeles, CA; Grace’s children, Nena (Funderburk) White of Springfield, formerly of Hillsboro, and Richard (wife Donna) Funderburk, of Irving; 12 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; several nieces and nephews; sisters Jackie (Norman) Perlmutter of Springfield, and Phyllis (Eugene) Siegel of Las Vegas; brothers Stanley (Nancy) Levine of Temucla, CA and Gerald (Jeanette) Levine of Lebanon,TN; and sisters-in-law Suzanne Levine of Plainfield  and Marlene Pappas of Chatham and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Manny, Faye, Marvin, Sheldon, Robert, and Ronald; son-in-law David B. White; and had just recently lost his beloved daughter, Kelly Levine and granddaughter, Tiffany Dougherty.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to Chatham VFW Post 4763, Temple B’Rith Sholom Building Fund or the Alzheimers Association, Illinois chapter in Springfield.

Please visit the online obituary at www.bischandsonfuneralhome.com where tributes and condolences may be left for the family.