Bernard Robert Jilek

Bernard “Bernie” Jilek age 75, of Hudson, died Tuesday, September. 24, 2019 at the University of Minnesota Medical Center – Fairview.  Bernie was born on May 30, 1944 in Rice Lake, WI to Albert and Eva Jilek. Bernie’s siblings where Martha (Gaylon) Derrick, Barbara (George) Sirek, and Edward (Marci Koski).  He attended Holy Trinity Parish Catholic School in Haugen through eighth grade.  He graduated from Rice Lake High School in 1962.  He served in the U.S. Army July 1965 through July 1967.  He retired after 30 years of driving freight trucks for various trucking companies.  His passion for the land brought him to City of Hudson Parks & Recreation grounds maintenance, then to start a tree spade business,  and finally to White Eagle Golf Course where he worked for 16 years.

Bernie was very social. Rarely did he pass up an invitation to go to coffee, dinner, or to just spend time with family and friends.  He enjoyed spending winters in Florida, golfing, annual fishing trip, perfecting landscaping of his yard, surfing the net for latest news on the stock mark, current trends of potato industry, and current trends in transportation benefits for drivers.  Most of all he loved his family; especially playing golf with Tayden, talking trains and trucks with Tristan, or playing doctor with Ileana.

Bernie will forever remain in the hearts of his wife of 39 years, Karen Jilek of Hudson, WI; his daughter Lea (Scott) Kaiser of Hammond, WI; his stepson Jay (Stacy) Overby of Coon Rapids, MN; grandchildren, Tayden and Ileana Kaiser and Tristan Overby; brother, Edward Jilek; brother-in-law, Gaylon Derrick; and many nieces and nephews.

Bernie is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Eva; his sisters, Barbara and Martha; and nephew: Dan Sirek.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday, September 30, at O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Hudson. Visitation will continue from 10-11 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., Tuesday, October 1, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hudson. Interment will be in Bethel Lutheran Church Columbarium in Hudson.

Memorials are preferred to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Research Fund, University of Minnesota Foundation, 200 Oak Street SE, Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55455-2010.

Arrangements by O’Connell Family Funeral Home.