Bernie Kwapnoski, age 40, of Columbus died Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He was born May 31, 1965 in Columbus, Nebraska to Chester and Coletta (Otterpohl) Kwapnoski. He grew up in Columbus and graduated from Scotus Central Catholic High School in 1983. Bernie went to work for Taco Bell. He married Barb Stoecklein on October 6, 1995 in Lee's Summit, Missouri. The couple lived in Grandview, Missouri where he was the training manager for Taco Bell. In 1997 they moved to Columbus where Bernie went to work for Total Comfort as an operations manager until July of 2005 when he went to work for Kelly's Heating and Cooling. Bernie was an avid M&M collector and enjoyed putting puzzles together and reading Stephen King books. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Columbus.

He is survived by:

Wife Barb Kwapnoski of Columbus, NE
Daughter Jessy Stoecklein of Columbus, NE
Daughter Tiffany Kwapnoski of Columbus, NE
Son Zachary Kwapnoski of Columbus, NE
Daughter Erin Kwapnoski of Columbus, NE
Daughter Kelsey Kwapnoski of Columbus, NE
Sister Gail Rongish of Columbus, NE

Brother Karl Kwapnoski of Columbus, NE
Brother Loren Kwapnoski of Council Bluffs, IA

He is preceded in death by:

Father Chester J. Kwapnoski
Mother Coletta Kwapnoski
Brother Chris Kwapnoski

(Obit courtesy of McKown Funeral Home)