Obituary of Edwin Anthony Berning

Edwin “Ed” Anthony Berning, was born August 19, 1930 on the Berning family homestead near Marienthal, Kansas, the son of Joseph & Veronica (Heili) Berning. Ed attended school in Marienthal where he enjoyed to play baseball. In 1952 Ed enlisted in the US Navy Airforce and began to serve his country by attending boot camp in San Diego CA. He received his first station at El Centro CA for 2 years before shipping off to Sasebo, Japan where he proudly served his final 2 years as a munitions clerk. After returning from the service Ed became enamored with a beautiful young lady and convinced her he was the man for her. On January 19th, 1957 he married Kathryn “Kathy” Rose Biel. They lived in blissful harmony for the next 63 years. Ed and Kathy began what was to become a strong legacy family with the birth of their first-born child in 1958 and didn’t find the off switch until 1970 with the birth of their 8th child. This family has grown to include 46 direct descendants and counting. The career that supported this family began with a stint in farming after the service, and he retired from Collingwood Grain after 32 of dedicated service to the agriculture industry as a grain elevator operator/manager. Ed had a wide range of activities and interests that he pursued over the course of his blessed life. First and foremost, spending time with his family was what he valued the most. He devoted his free time to them by taking them fishing and hunting, the art of gardening and playing family games. Through these activities he taught them many valuable life lessons such as putting others first and most importantly how to laugh and have fun. In retirement Ed had the time to spend tinkering with many of his favorite items such as wood projects, refurbishing toy tractors/pedal cars and completing handyman projects for those in need. Ed loved to attend auctions with his friends and thus began his passion to collect toy tractors. Edwin was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Leoti, Kansas as well as the Knights of Columbus in Marienthal, Kansas. Ed’s surviving family includes His Wife - Kathy Berning of Leoti, Kansas, Eight Children - Vicki & Cayle Hahn of Pueblo, Colorado, Dan & Mary Berning of Lincoln, Nebraska, Sam & Tina Berning of Arvada, Colorado, Nanette & Alan Maxwell of Ottawa, Kansas, Mick & Stacia Berning of Wichita, Kansas, Ted & Shelley Berning of Colwich, Kansas, Matt Berning of Moore, Oklahoma, Jerry & Jennifer Berning of Hutchinson, Kansas, Twenty-four Grandchildren and fourteen Great Grandchildren. His parents, a granddaughter Sheila, a great grandson - Kolton, three brothers Bart, John, Joe and one sister Evie precede him in death. Vigil services will be held at 7:00 pm Monday, January 13, 2020 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Leoti, Kansas. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 am Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Leoti, Kansas with Father Tim Hickey officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Marienthal, Kansas. Friends may call from 1:00 – 8:00 pm Sunday and from10:00 am until 5:00 pm Monday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas. Memorials may be given to Wichita County Health Center or St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Building Fund in care of the funeral home.