AMBOY – Michael Allan Bernardin passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, after fighting a two-year battle with Multiple Myeloma.

In Lieu of flowers please make your donation to Unity Hospice or The Hub City Senior Center. 

Visitation will be from 2-6 p.m. Sunday Nov. 3 at the Mihm-Jones Funeral Home in Amboy. Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday Nov. 4 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Amboy for Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in West Brooklyn. Arrangements by the Mihm-Jones Funeral Home in Amboy. Condolences can be left at www.thejonesfh.com.

Bernardin was born in Rochelle on May 13, 1950, and lived his entire childhood in Amboy. He graduated in the class of 1968 from Amboy High School.

On Sept. 5, 1992, Mike married Mary Margaret Furuseth, and they became a blended family of five daughters: Amy Bernardin (John) Smith, Lisa Bernardin (Ryan) Zorn, Laura Bernardin, Micki Joslin (Mike) Blevins, and Marcy Joslin (Dan) Brown.

Michael had many interests in his life but two of the things he loved most, besides life on the farm, were music and cars. He would sit in the music room for hours listening to all types of music. He would make custom CDs for friends and always had the stereo blaring in his shop when he worked on his second great passion, his antique cars. He was the proud owner of a 1934 Ford, which he rebuilt three times, and his 1928 Ford he was purchased years later. Of course, he tore it apart and rebuilt it too, but that was just Mike.

In the summer, he would hit at least one car show a week. He could be found Wednesday nights at his favorite spot, Smokin Coops, where they became like family to Mike. Trophies meant nothing to him. He just loved seeing all his friends and talking cars.

Mike worked for 28 years at Northwestern Steel and Wire before deciding to run for Highway Commissioner of Viola Township. After winning the election in 2005, Mike faithfully served the community for over 19 years. Sometimes working 24 hours straight to clear the snow because "it just needed to be done".

Mike is survived by his wife, his daughters and nine grandchildren: Justin (Sarah) Smith, Matthew Smith, AJ Smith, Nathan, Jacob and Emma Zorn, Luke and Lexi Brown, and Ashton Blevins, and his sister Jean (Don) Kreiser.

Bernardin is preceded in death by his parents Edwin and Sue Bernardin, his sister Marie Boyer, and his parents-in-law Dean and Margaret Furuseth.