Bernard G. "Bernie" "Bernie" Templin

Bernard George "Bernie" Templin, 92, of Peoria, passed away at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria, IL on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

Bernie was born on May 8, 1933, in Peoria, to John and Lucie (Boettger) Templin, the youngest of eight children. He married Marta Vonachen on November 28, 1964, in Peoria. She preceded him in death on January 25, 2012. They were married 47 years.

Bernie is survived by three children, Theresa (Jim) Angell of Peoria, David (Lisa) Templin of Washington, and Daniel (Kristal) Templin of Sycamore, Illinois. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Ashley (Jordan) Krull, Megan (Jacob) Connor, Noah, Hannah, Erin and Luke Templin and one great grandchild, Theodore Krull. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Gertrude Otterstrom and Martha Bolles, and five brothers, William, Louis, Herman, Arthur and Paul Templin.

Bernie worked at Caterpillar Inc. for 45 years, retiring in 1995. He started as a Heat Treat Apprentice and subsequently was a Heat Treat & Materials Engineer, Systems Analyst, Systems Architect and Real Estate Consultant. He was appointed to the Peoria City Council on two occasions and volunteered as a member of the city Zoning Commission, Planning Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals. After retirement he worked for the city for a short time as a Real Estate Consultant. He was also a volunteer with the American Red Cross, having been on its Blood Region Board of Directors for 15 years, a driver for the Blood Region for 6 years, and having donated 50 gallons of blood and platelets.

Bernie was a life-long active member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church where he sang in the choir and served as a member of the Vestry and various committees many times. He also served at the altar as a Eucharistic Minister, Subdeacon, MC and scheduled all lay altar servers. He made a Cursillo (an ecumenical Christian retreat community) in 1972 and was active in that movement, having been on many teams since then, including one in Geneva, Switzerland. He was also involved in the formation of the Walk to Emmaus, a Methodist version of Cursillo, and was on a team that met in Hong Kong. He was a Franciscan Tertiary in the Third Order of the Anglican Society of St. Francis.

Bernie's life was one of service and commitment to his family and his church.

Cremation Rites have been accorded. Visitation will be at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 3601 N. North St. Peoria, IL 61604, on Friday, August 8, 2025, from 4:00 – 7:00pm and on Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 9:00 – 9:45am prior to the service. Memorial service will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, August 9, 2025, also at the church, with the Rev. C. Christian Pierce officiating. Interment will follow in the columbarium alongside the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Bernie and Marta Vonachen Templin Fund at the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, which will support healthcare to populations in need in the Peoria area. Donations can be made via the community foundation website, https://cfci.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=3277, or by mail to 3625 N Sheridan Rd, Peoria, IL 61604.

Tributes and condolences may be left at www.wrightandsalmon.com