Springfield Funeral Home

By the grace of God, our Father, the redeeming love of our sweet savior, Jesus Christ, and the quiet promptings of the of the Holy Spirit, Bernard Runge has completed his earthly life and proceeds to his bountiful heavenly home. Predeceased by his parents, Eleanora and Frank Runge, his older sister, Florence, and his beautiful wife Elizabeth, he is survived by Kelowna relatives: sisters Jeannette Tracey and Terise Runge, nieces Monica and Dionne, great nephews Brandon and Dustin Campbell; Windsor relatives: his sister Phyllis (Paul) McIntyre, great nephew and nieces John and Moira; US relatives: great nephew Stephen (Janet) and nieces Lenora, Judith (Lucasz); Vancouver niece Francine Tracey, great nephews James, Trevor and Sean; Vancouver nephew Alan great niece Lauryn (step-sister Hailey); cousins Eleanor (Bill) Graham of Winnipeg and Dorothy (Bob) Atkins of Seattle. Bernie was raised and educated in Winnipeg. With a gifted violin teacher, he excelled with his instrument and thereafter loved intensely a vast variety of instrumental music. In the early forties he joined the Canadian Army where he served primarily in Kiska, Alaska until the end of World War II. From thence he completed his earlier training as a linotype operator and moved to California with his new bride Betty. There they lived and worked for forty years as American citizens. Having served in the army, his excellence as a violinist was lost to the task at hand, but was later replaced by a passion for golf and a love of nature as experienced on the golf course and as a cyclist. In 1990, after losing his beloved wife to a rare illness Bernie decided to return to Canada to be close to his sister’s family in Kelowna. He lived in Sandstone (“the most beautiful place in the world”). He enjoyed so much the pool and his garden with pond and his antique’63 Mercury Monterey. In his old age Bernie was served by the committeeship of Jeannette and Paul (Phyllis) and by his gracious caregiver Leo (Monica). His heart responded to each of them. Thank you, Dr. Paul Hart, for your kindly attention over many years and to the KGH staff on 2E during his final days. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 10:00 am by Father Sebastian at Immaculate Conception Church, 839 Sutherland Ave. Interment at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery. Family and friends to gather for luncheon at the Mekong, 1030 Harvey, Ave.. If you are so inclined, please donate to the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation, 2268 Pandosy Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 1T2.