Bernard Joseph Theis

Bernard Joseph Theis passed away June 11 2021. He was 102 years, 89 days. Bernard was the ninth of ten children born to Emil Theis and Mary Magdalena Kaelin in Wathena, Kansas on March 14, 1919.

Bernard helped his father farm in Wathena and in St. Joseph, Missouri until he married the love of his life, Julia Heuertz, in October of 1941. He worked on the Heuertz homestead until October 1953 when he moved his family of four children and his wife Julia to Oakland, California. In December of 1953 his wife had their fifth child.

Bernard and his family later moved to Hayward California for two years. While living there he was employed by a company called Wellmade Metal Products. He was employed there for one and a half years. In 1955 Bernard moved his family to Danville California.

In 1955 Bernie, as his friends called him, started working as a carpenter and became a master craftsman carpenter. In addition to building custom homes he built three cabins for each of his sons in Tahoe, a cabin for one of his brothers plus an addition to his home in Danville.

Bernie was a member of St Isidore Catholic Church in Danville where he was involved in the Fathers Club and Boy Scouts of America

In 1979 Bernie and Julia purchased property in Penryn California where he built a new home for Julia. Julia lived there until her death in 2015. Bernie remained in his home until his death. Bernie was a member of St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Auburn California for forty two years. He liked telling stories of his growing up in Wathena Kansas as a farmer and building his home in Penryn California

Bernie was preceded in death by his wife Julia and his oldest son Frederick and his parents along with his nine siblings. He is survived by his four remaining children,

James (Linda) Theis, Rocklin California, Fredericks wife Arlene Theis Loomis California Daniel (Ida) Theis Lincoln Montana, Diane (Randy) Ross Stevensville, Montana, Lorraine (Chris) Nielsen, Billings, Montana

He is also survived by ten grandchildren and twenty one great grandchildren along with five great great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephew

Visitation to be at Chapel of the Hills, Auburn California

Thursday June 24, 2021

4:00 to 8:00pm

Rosary following visitation at 7:00 pm

Funeral Mass at St Joseph’s Auburn California

Friday June 25, 2021

11:00 am