Bernard "Bernie" Zerull

Bernard "Bernie" Zerull

July 18, 1951 - October 13, 2023

Bernard "Bernie" Zerull, 72, of DeKalb, died on Friday, October 13, 2023, at NW Medicine- Kishwaukee Hospital.

He was born on July 18, 1951 in Moline, IL to Robert and Zelma (Roach) Zerull. He graduated in 1969 from Alleman High School in Rock Island, IL. After high school he attended Black Hawk College in Moline, IL, and earned a BA in History and Political Science from Northern Illinois University in 1973. On April 19,1975, he married Phyllis Giebelstein from DeWitt, IA, at Sacred Heart Church in Moline, IL. This past April they celebrated 48 years of marriage.

After graduation he worked in the sales department for the wine and spirits division of Consumer Sales Agency, Moline, IL, where he was recognized for outstanding sales and excellent customer service. He later moved to the warehouse operations division for Miller Brewing Company also in Moline. In 2000, Bernie began working at Elgin Community College in shipping, receiving and mail operations where he spent the next 16 years until retiring from ECC in 2016.

Finding a game of euchre, sitting in the sunshine at Wrigley, watching the Bears at home, the stadium or a local hangout, he would say were the best ways to spend a day but most of all family and friends were very near and dear to him. He loved fishing and spending so many summers with Phyllis, Emily and his in-laws at their summer home on Middle Leaf Lake in Henning, MN. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed spring golf trips to Alabama with a group of friends. A great cook, he would spend entire days making huge pots of chili, trays of enchiladas (often sharing with others), swapping recipes with his son-in law, grilling slabs of barbeque ribs, chicken and burgers and everyone looked forward to his annual Thanksgiving and Christmas homemade, old fashioned noodle making event!

He loved to travel - England, Ireland, Italy, and Scotlan where he walked the course at St. Andrews. Other favorite destinations were the Seattle, WA, area to visit family, Nashville where he and Phyllis spent spring break vacation weeks golfing, antiquing, strolling the streets watching people and listening to music. He was always ready to go anywhere.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis, DeKalb; daughter, Emily (Jay) Diebold, DeKalb; brother-in-law, Rich Giebelstein, Oak Harbor, WA; brother, Galen (Marcia) Zerull, Moline, IL; brother, Bob (Sheri) Zerull, Shalimar, FL; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Laneta Gowdy and Jeanine Connor.

Additionally, there are simply no words to express our thanks to the entire medical and administrative/operations staff at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital who were a huge part of our lives over the past couple years. They shared our hope, joy, sadness and grief all the while providing superior medical care that we will never forget or take for granted. A huge thanks to the doctors and staff at Timber Creek Dialysis Center for caring for his needs. Also, to Home Instead for their caring services.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Barb Food Mart serving DeKalb School District Families (www.barbfoodmart.com).

To sign the online guest book, go to www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com.