ernard (“Bernie”) Persky was born on September 6, 1925 to Jacob and Molly Persky in Pittsburgh, PA.
Family
He passed away on August 24, 2016 at his residence in Tampa with his wife, Elaine and daughter, Linda by his side. He is survived by his loving wife Elaine Persky (Matus-Julie) of 61 years. Additionally he is survived by his daughters Marla Persky and Linda Lowe, as well as his grandchildren Ariel, Jazan, Samantha and Shean and great-grandson, Ethan.
Military History and Awards
PFC Bernard Persky entered into military service on October 4, 1943 in New Cumberland, PA. He was a member of the Greatest Generation that saved the world from the terrors of the Nazis and Axis powers. He served his country as an infantry lineman who went ahead of the troops to string telegraph lines that enabled the Allied forces to communicate and coordinate as they advanced into battle. He participated in the American Campaign and European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign. At the time of his discharge, Bernie was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, two Good Conduct Awards, the Purple Heart Medal, the French Legion of Merit Award, the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze battle stars, and received his designation as an expert with the M1 rifle and pistol, as well as his Combat Infantry Badge. Bernie received his Purple Heart for wounds received in Germany on June 13, 1945. His tour of duty took him through Central Europe, Northern France, the Rhineland and the Battle of the Bulge.
Life after the War
After the war Bernie retuned home and attended the Ohio College of Podiatry under the GI Bill. While vacationing with friends in Miami, he met Elaine and soon thereafter they married on Christmas Day, 1954 in the Bronx, NY. He worked as a podiatrist for the state of Pennsylvania for most of his professional career. He was very proud to also work for the VA helping veterans. Upon retirement, he and Elaine moved to Florida.
Military Honors
A graveside service to celebrate the life of Bernard Persky is scheduled for Monday, August 29, 2016 at 12:30 pm at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida with the United States Army providing military honors. The family would like to thank the James A. Haley VA Home Based Primary Care staff for the outstanding care given to Bernie during the last years of his life.
Special Acknowledgements
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to either Honor Flight or the Purple Heart Foundation.
Family and friends are invited to share a memory and sign his guestbook below.
This is a beautiful obituary. I am saddened to hear of his passing but truly know he is at peace. So blessed am I to have known him and shared many fun and funny moments with the entire family. He was a remarkable man and thoughts of him will always bring a smile to my face. Love and hugs to all of you.
Therese
Dearest Linda and family,
I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting your Dad. However, the qualities and attributes that is clearly defined in the beautiful obituary can been seen in you. I have to work on Monday, but my
My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family. Love, Mary
This is a beautiful tribute to you, Bernie. You are and will forever be missed by all of us. Thank you for all that you did for me. I treasured our relationship, and, yes, I will do my best to care for your eldest daughter and first grandchild. Xoxo
Dearest Linda, Ariel, Jazz, Shean, & your entire family, I was saddened to see the passing of your loved one. It is never easy. & he will be missed. Having known him in the past, I did not know all that he had accomplished. Thank you for that amazing tribute to him. I can sure bet you all have a lot of that wonderful man in you…if I could be at the funeral on Monday I would, I will be out of town working. Please extend my sympathies to your entire family. Love you guys & will be thinking of you on Monday
DEAR ELAINE MARLA LINDA & GRANDCHILDREN & GREATGRANDCHILD
UNCLE BERNIE WAS A GREAT PERSON AND OUR HEROE WE WILL ALSWAYTREASURE THE MEMORY OF HIS PERSOONALITY AND HIS ACOMPLISHYMENTS GOD BLESS HIM
A lovely tribute to a lovely man. He made the most of his time here and made many important contributions. I am sure you are all proud of him.
I never had the chance to meet Marla and Linda’s father. I wish I had. The men of his generation have a hard-won special something. Our heartfelt condolences to all who loved and are missing Bernie.
My deepest condolences to you all. I hope you find comfort in the years of happy memories. Your father lived a long, giving, honorable, impressive and meaningful life – much of which I learned reading this amazing obituary, a brief but moving story of a live well lived. He will be missed, certainly, and he will be celebrated. I am grateful to have met him and to know the wonderful family he created.
Dear Linda it is hard to lose parents . The god is holding your loved one in his arm and holding you in his heart.
My thought and prayers are with you and think about all good memories.
My sincere condolence to you and your loving family
Fary ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Dear Persky family, i am so sorry I couldn’t be there. I’m glad Jason was able to represent the Matus family. I just read the obituary and I’m amazed how little I knew about Bernie’s war time history, his medals and his bravery. Come to think of it Bernie rarely talked about himself. He was proud of his girls and shared their accomplishments and happy to be sharing his life with the love of his life Elaine. He was a satisfied man.
I will miss his presence in my life.
Love,
Greta