Bernard Joseph Gressner

Bernard Joseph Gressner, 73 of Bradenton, Florida, passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2016 at the Manatee Memorial Hospital after a sudden illness.

Bernie was born on October 17, 1943 in Lowell, Massachusetts to the late David Hamilton and Doris (Deschenes) Gressner. He moved to St. Petersburg at the age of about 10 years old and resided in the St. Petersburg area until four years ago when he moved to Bradenton.

He was a graduate of the Boca Ciega High School in St. Petersburg, where he remained active in the alumni events to this day. Following his graduation he served with the United States Navy during the Vietnam Era. He was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. At the time of his discharge from the Navy he had attained the rank of Petty Officer Third Class.

After his military service he returned to St. Petersburg where he worked as a home improvement salesman and was a member of the American Legion Post. After moving to Bradenton he became very active in Karaoke singing and was known to sing on Friday nights at the Sunset Grill in Palmetto.

Bernie was predeceased by a brother, Myron David Gressner and is survived by his significant other of 10 years, Sandra Larkins, her four children which he treated as his own; John and his wife Debbie Larkins of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Julie and her husband Russell Boncoski of Bradenton, Florida, Jeanne and her husband Michael Sumner of Gaffney, South Carolina, Jacqueline and her husband Dudley Wilson of Akron, Ohio, her twelve grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren, his sister-in-law; Lynda Gressner of Bristol, Virginia, three nephews; David and his wife Stacey Gressner of Bristol, Virginia, Noel Gressner of Miami, Florida, Mischa Gressner of Bristol, Virginia, special and close friends; Sara and Gerald Meredith of St. Petersburg, Florida, and many other extended family members and friends from over the years and from Karokeing.

A celebration of Bernie’s life will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at Shannon Funeral Home Town Chapel, 1015 14th Street West, Bradenton, Florida with final military honors to be rendered by the Funeral Honor Detail of the United States Navy. A committal service will be held at 1:30 P.M. on Monday, January 9, 2016 at the Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Highway 72 (Clark Road), Sarasota, Florida  34241.

The family request that in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to either The Dollywood Foundation, My People Fund, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN   37863 to assist the families that suffered loss due to the wild forest fires in Tennessee this past fall or to the Patriot Guard Riders, Inc., c/o Tatum & Associates, Inc., 6641 E. 85th Street North, Owasso, Oklahoma,   74055 in his memory.

Condolences for the family may be made online at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.