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Photo provided by Andrew G Bernhardt, son Sent for In memory by Ed Webb
Clayton, MO - Jane Loriel Mercer Johnson Bernhardt (born 22 April 1942) of Clayton, Missouri, left this life on the morning of Easter Sunday. Born in Alton, Illinois, to long-time Superintendent of Alton Public Schools, Dr. James Burris Johnson, and Anneka Theen Johnson, Jane attended Alton High, Stephens College and Washington University in St. Louis where she enjoyed being a Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sister.
She worked for the St. Louis City Bookmobile and at Olin Library at WashU. The highlight of her life was her marriage to Roger Paul Bernhardt (JD, Harvard), a St. Louis attorney still in practice, and the creation of their family.
She loved her family, her home, buying gifts for others, being room-mother for her children, the idea of childhood, celebrating Christmas, going antique shopping, collecting things, travelling to Hawaii and Italy, partying, butterflies, the number 43, making things like art, and reminiscing about her childhood friends in Alton and her family's businesses: ABC Bakery in Alton and the family farm in Centralia, IL.
She loved America and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and five other historical organizations.
Jane is survived by Roger and their three children: Dr. Elizabeth Louise Bernhardt, Katherine Wallis Bernhardt and Andrew Gaston Bernhardt, all of St. Louis; two wonderful international grandchildren: Daphne and Khalifa; and sister Carol Anneka Johnson Boulris of Chappaqua, NY, and her children: Mark Boulris of Miami, Dr. Craig Boulris of San Francisco and Lori Boulris Townsend of Chappaqua and their large families across the country; son-in-law Paolo Martino and family in Italy; cousin Klaus Rittmann in Germany; and two Theen cousins.
Gent Funeral Home in Alton is handling her funeral arrangements. Donations in her memory may be made to the Osage Nation Foundation. Online guestbook and information may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com
Published by The Telegraph on Apr. 11, 2023.
Photo provided by Andrew G Bernhardt, son Sent for In memory by Ed Webb
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Marilyn Hope Waide (Lake)
I was so sorry to hear of Jane Johnson Bernhardt’s passing. She was a very smart classmate who was well respected by all of us. It sounds like she had a great life and happy family.
Roger Cooke
Priscilla has it exactly right. Jane was in our class all the way from kindergarten to graduation. Her very quiet, placid way of relating to people and her way of constantly letting others answer the teachers' questions, when (as her presence on the honor rolls showed) she knew the answers very well, concealed how very bright she was. And she was unfailingly kind to everyone, at all times. I'm glad to learn that she found satisfaction in her family and work. Her life was well lived, and too short.
Afterthought: This might be a good time to repost the picture of our kindergarten production of Peter Rabbit at Horace Mann School, back in 1948 (75 years ago!) At the left, you can see Marilyn Waide, Carole Kober, and Jane Johnson. On the right, Carol Vann (in a tall hat), me, and Randy Hausmann, standing in front of Bill Kodros and David Plunk. Well, sort them out for yourselves, you who were there. I no longer recognize a lot of them.
Larry Donahue
So sorry to hear of Jane Passing. I sent condolances in the Telegraph.
That was a really great picture Roger posted. I did not start at Horace Mann until the 2nd grade, but I could still pick out many of them. Wow! three quarters of a century ago. Thanks for posting Roger.
To all of our classmates I send my best regards and hope for your health to be good.
Larry
Marilyn Hope Waide (Lake)
Jane was a friend throughout our school years. We weren't "besties; but we were good friends. I liked and admired her. I think everyone who knew her liked and admired her. The comments recently posted say so much about her, but there never is enough said. I remember a time when she told me about here children. She was so proud of them.
She will be missed dearly, by family and friends. I'm hopeful that with time the pain will pass and the joys they shared will come first when they think of her. I wish that for Jane, for myself, and for all of us as we near our final years. May they be full of peace, love and joy. Marilyn
Roger Cooke
And many thanks to Ed Webb and Jane's family for those beautiful pictures now posted. I should have mentioned what a beautiful smile Jane so often had.
Marilyn Hope Waide (Lake)
This is a comment sent in by Hope (Cousley) Apple:
"Jane was always in my life-Girl Scouts, grade school and college. She was a wonderful friend . We were each others bridesmaids. She was a beautiful woman through and through."