Mary Bernhardt, who was 100 years old, died Sunday, January 1, 2012 at the Valley View Villa Care Center in Ft. Morgan. She was born September 5, 1911 in Kalmitzke, Russia to John George and Mary (Steinmark) Zimmerman. When she was a year and a half old, she and her family boarded a ship, the Brelain, in Breman, Germany and landed in Galveston Texas twenty one days later. After migrating to Colorado she grew up and attended school in Johnstown. Mary became an American citizen on June 27, 1940. She married George Bernhardt Jr. on November 26, 1931 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Loveland. Following their marriage they farmed in Milliken for 18 years and then moved to Wiggins in 1949 after purchasing a farm there. She gave unselfishly of herself with many years of volunteer service to her church and community. Mary was a charter member of the Wiggins Community Church founded in 1949. She was a Sunday school teacher for over 30 years and had perfect attendance for over 54 years. She was the Sunday school Secretary for many years and was a member of the Women's Fellowship, which she helped organize, for over 50 years. She also had held all the various offices in that organization through the years and helped in preparing food for funerals, weddings, etc. In 1964 she was honored as Wiggins Church Mother of the Year. Mary was a member of the senior choir for 30 years, taught vacation bible school, was a youth group sponsor for 15 years, a church historian and was selected "Church Person of the Year" by the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ. In addition to her church activities she was active in the PTA when her kids were in school, was a leader of the Sunshine 4-H club for 28 years, helped girls sew Pep Club, Cheerleader and other types of uniforms for school, was awarded "Outstanding Citizenship" in Morgan County in 1995, was cashier for the SHARE program in Wiggins, was active in the Meet and Eat program and was selected as an Angel Among Us in Morgan County. Mary was an inspiration to those who had the privilege to know and work with her. Survivors include her children, Helen Busch and Albert Bernhardt both of Wiggins, Melvin Bernhardt of Mitchell, Nebraska and Marian Forbes of Ft. Morgan, 3 brothers, Henry, Raymond and Ben, 9 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, 8 step great-grandchildren. 7 great-great grandchildren and 2 step great-great grandchildren. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, 3 sisters, Martha, Rose, and Florene, 2 brothers, George and Victor, 2 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. There will be a visitation on Thursday, January 5th from 5 until 7 pm at the Heer & Dahl Mortuary in Ft. Morgan. Funeral Services will be Friday, January 6th at 10:00 am the Wiggins Community Church in Wiggins. Interment will follow in Memory Gardens. Memorial Gifts may be made to the Wiggins Community Church in Wiggins The Heer & Dahl Mortuary in Ft. Morgan is in charge of the arrangements.