Bernard Allen Abrahamson, 89, of River Falls, died peacefully at the Hudson Hospital, Hudson, Wis. on Sunday, May 3.
Born in Fairchild, Wis. on Sept. 1,1936 to Roy and Dorothy Abrahamson, the youngest son of seven boys along with two younger sisters, he grew up and attended primary through high school in Fairchild. Bernie also first met the love of his life, Peggy Primus, while attending school together in Fairchild. Bernie and his brothers were very active in the family coal business in Fairchild as well as local athletics, especially basketball, including a family travel team with his six brothers and coached by their dad, Roy. Bernie (and Peggy) both went on to attend UW Eau Claire to pursue each other and degrees in education while he played basketball for the Blugolds with Peggy courtside as a Blugold Cheerleader. He was married to Peggy on Aug. 10,1957 and went on to have four beautiful daughters (Kelly, Kim, Kris & Kari).
Bernie joined the US Army shortly after marriage, first stationed in Missouri and later stationed in Spokane, Wash. with both Peggy and young Kelly in tow. After completing his time in the Army, Bernie and his young family returned to Wisconsin, where he transitioned to serving in the Army National Guard, began to grow their family and teach in several communities including Gilman, Spring Valley and finally River Falls. During this time he also attended Winona State University to obtain a Master of Administration and Counseling. He was active in the Lions Club, American Legion and VFW along with multiple roles in the River Falls School District including Guidance Counselor, Assistant Superintendent and Interim Superintendent on several occasions. Bernie maintained his interests in sports by coaching, officiating and as an avid sports fan with all things Badgers, Packers and Brewers. When he was able, annual trips to the boys state basketball tournament in Madison with a stop at Mickies were a must.
Aside from his family, and grandchildren in particular, several of his proudest achievements included facilitating the creation of the River Falls Veterans Memorial and publishing five books in his “retirement.” Bernie loved being active outside, spending countless hours and effort building landscape projects including water features, agrarian structures, often with a nod to his Fairchild years, planting large gardens, maintaining a pristine yard, raising pheasants and several horses on the wooded acreage surrounding their house with a tireless work ethic. Some of the best times he had was sharing all of this with his grandchildren, especially taking them on sleigh and buggy rides drawn by “Candyman” and “Major.” He also took great joy in attending as many of his grandchildren’s events and activities as possible. Late in his life, he would relish drives through the county side, checking out the horse farms, spotting wildlife and wrapping it up with two scoops of Culver’s vanilla custard.
Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Dorothy, siblings Leonard, Edwin, Gerald, Charles, Alvin, Lyle & Carol (Anason) along with his wife Peggy and daughter, Kris. He is survived by his sister, Susie Janke, daughters Kelly (& Paul Cuta), Kim (& Dave Anderson), Kari (& Fernando Flores) and six grandchildren – Carley (Cuta & Jonathan Rooney), Lexi Cuta, Loghan & Janse Anderson and Hunter & Walker Flores.
A funeral service presided by Fr. Jerry Harris was at the Bakken Young Funeral Home in River Falls at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 9, 2026 and with a visitation before, beginning at 10 a.m. Interment with military honors was in Greenwood Cemetery
