Randall “Randy” Gene Bernau

Randall “Randy” Gene Bernau, 73, of Hazelhurst, died February 24, 2026. Randy was born in Elkhorn on July 6, 1952 to Eugene and Avis (nee Pruefert) Bernau and grew up in Caldwell, a very small town in Racine County. Randy described the town as being so small it only had one gas station, one country store, a Methodist church which his family attended and a lot of open land where he and his three brothers (Gary, Lynn and Scott) could play baseball, target shoot, fish and hunt to their hearts’ content. They were outdoors boys through and through.

Randy attended grade school in Caldwell and high school in Waterford where he participated in cross country running and tennis. He had a knack for figuring out how things worked and how to build things from scratch. This ability was beneficial to him in the jobs he held throughout his life. He worked in a lumber yard, a hardware store, a body shop and a factory where he painted power transformers. Much of his earlier life was spent in the Milwaukee area until he moved to the Northwoods in 1996. His experience with truck driving and landscaping led him to work for Rynders Excavating Company and Custom Caretaking and Landscaping for many years in the Minocqua area. He retired in 2025.

Randy met his future wife when he and his brothers went to eat at a restaurant in Mukwonago in the early 70s. He needed ketchup and it was Linda Priefer, an employee, who brought it to him. That condiment changed his life and led to their marriage in 1979. They had two children, Daniel Ray Bernau and Heather Jean Bernau (Levy). The Bernau family moved to Hazelhurst in 1996. Randy and Linda divorced in 2025.

Anyone who met Randy will remember his whacky sense of humor, his gift of gab, his honesty and his ability to work hard with stamina. Randy said, “My word is my word. The old handshake is like a contract to me.”

His love of the outdoors permeated his life as reflected by him saying, “I always enjoyed fishing, bow and gun deer hunting and hanging out in the woods but my best times were with my brothers since the 1970s when we started going fishing in Canada.” He was an excellent cook who never let any of his game go to waste; not even squirrels!

Randy is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gary. He is survived by his children, Daniel (Amy) Bernau and Heather (David) Levy; grandchildren, Ellie Levy and Jordan Levy; brothers, Lynn Bernau and Scott Bernau; and former wife, Linda. Randy chose to forego formal funeral services and have his cremains scattered over one of his favorite hunting spots. 

A celebration of life will be held at the Antigo Elk’s Lodge, 622 Clermont St., Antigo, WI 54409 on March 14, from noon until 4 p.m. 

Bolger Cremation and Funeral Services is assisting the family, www.bolgerfuneral.com for condolences.