Bruce David "Wheat" Bernhold

Bruce David "Wheat" Bernhold, age 67, of Minster, Ohio, unexpectedly passed away of natural causes on January 29, 2026 at his home. He was born on October 10, 1958 in St. Marys, Ohio to the late Roland C. & Patricia A. (Shenk) Bernhold. On November 4, 1990, in St. Augustine Catholic Church, Minster, Bruce married Audra (Goettemoeller) Bernhold and she survives in Minster. He is also survived by five sons: Xavier of Minster, Quinten and Alma (Vera) of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Major of Minster and Rachel Schmitmeyer of Fort Loramie, Gavin of Minster, and Redmond of Minster. Bruce is also survived by his brother, Mark and Susan of Minster and his sister, Pamela and Mike Fischer, Plain City, Ohio. He is survived by his stepmother, Mary Brecount, mother-in-law, Marcia Goettemoeller; brother-in-law Kenneth Goettemoeller; and sister-in-law Amber (Goettemoeller) and Robert Winner. He is survived by many nieces and nephews. Bruce was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law Roger Goettemoeller; brother Gregg Bernhold and nephew, Parker Bernhold.
Bruce was a 1977 graduate of Minster High School, where he played football, basketball, baseball, and golf. Bruce went on to graduate in Accountancy at the University of Notre Dame in 1981 where he lived in Alumni Hall for four years. He was a certified Public Accountant at Ernst and Whinney in Cleveland until 1984. In 1984, Bruce returned to Minster to join the family business, M.C. Bernhold Insurance Agency, that was started by his grandfather, Maurice Bernhold, in 1935. Bruce was an active insurance professional for 42 years earning his Certified Insurance Counselor designation. Bruce earned a spot in Auto-Owner's Life Insurance and Annuity President's Club for over 25 years. He was past board member of Arrowhead; past board member of the Minster Community Foundation; past Treasure for the Minster Band Boosters; longtime sponsor of the Bernhold Braves Little League Team; member of Minster Fraternal Order of Eagles1391; board member of the Minster High School Scholarship Committee; member of the Knights of Columbus; member of the Athletic Boosters; past freshman religious education instructor for 10 years; past member of Temporal Affairs for St. Augustine Catholic Church; CYO basketball coach; and active usher at 5 pm Mass at St. Augustine Catholic Church. He was a past member of the Minster Chiropractic Bowling Team for 24 years and previously played on the Ranly Cabinets Softball Team. Bruce was an avid blood donor and followed the Cleveland sports teams for many years.
Bruce dedicated his life to the community of Minster and choose to raise his family there. He is deeply loved by his wife and five sons who will miss him each day.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 AM Friday, February 6, 2026 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Minster, Ohio. Burial will follow in St. Augustine Cemetery. Friends may call at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster, on Thursday, February 5, 2026 from 2 to 7 PM and on Friday, February 6 from 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM. Donations may be made to Minster Area Life Squad. Condolences may be left at www.hogenkampfh.co