Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Ardis, Bernard Wayne October 29, 1991 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com November 26, 2018, 10:01 pm Sentinel-Std. - Wednesday, Oct. 30, 1991 Ionia- Bernard Wayne Ardis, 73, long-time Ionia public official and community leader, died early Tuesday at his home after a short illness. Ardis served for 17 years as supervisor of Ionia's First Ward, from 1951 through 1967, when the then- new state Constitution changed the structure of local government. Ardis had the distinction of being nominated for supervisor by both major parties, the last person double nominated in Ionia County. After the change in local government, he joined Ionia County Equalization Department in 1967 and served there as director for 17 years until his retirement in 1984. He was president of Ionia City Housing Commission at his death and had served on the commission for many years. He was also, for many years, active in Ionia Lions Club and had served as secretary of the club since 1968. He had been active in every local Lions Club project for decades and was serving as co-chairman of the Lions' current Hale Park Project at the time of his death. He was also Past Deputy District Governor of area 11-C-1 of Lions International and a board member of the Welcome Home for the Blind in Grand Rapids. Born Sept. 8, 1918 in McBain, Missaukee County, he was the son of Samuel G. and Katherine Burk Ardis. He was graduated from McBain High School and attended Central Michigan University. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps for four years during World War II. Shortly after separation from the service he and his wife moved to Ionia. He managed the C. Thomas Grocery Store, formerly located on the north side of Main Street in the 300 block from 1946 to 1949. He was then employed at Ionia Hardware, from 1949 to 1965, Marshall Wright Lumber Co. from 1965 to 1967, and then joined Ionia County's Equalization Department. He was married to the former Bertha Fehsenfeld on Sept. 11, 1941. Surviving in addition to his wife are their seven children, Nancy Flinn, Howard W. Ardis, Harvey Ardis, Mrs. Philip (Mary) Perrien, Mrs. James (Joan) Nummer, the Rev. John Ardis C.S.P. and Bernard J. Ardis. Also surviving are 21 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren; a sister, Katherine Ux of Mt. Pleasant, a brother, Evart W. Ardis of Irvine, Calif.; and a sister-0in-law, Delma Ardis of Lake City. He was preceded in death by a brother, Burk Ardis; and two sisters, Margaret Draper and Doris Ardis. He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul's Church at 11:30 p.m., with his son, the Rev. John B. Ardis, C.S.P., as celebrant. The organist will be Mary Cusack. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Ionia Lions Club members will form an honor guard at the funeral. The family will be at Cook Funeral Home Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Prayer vigil will be held Thursday at 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials have been established for SS. Peter and Paul's Church and Ionia Lions Club, in care of the funeral home. Additional Comments: Age: 73 Funeral: Friday, Nov. 1, 1991 Mt. Olivet cemetery #D-107 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/a/ardis8677gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 3.6 Kb