Bernard Alan “Bernie” Bottenberg

An informal Celebration of Life and Art Exhibit for Bernie Bottenberg

will be held on Sunday, July 27 from 2-4 pm at the

Capital Plaza Hotel Emerald Room in Topeka.

Please come and enjoy semi-original art, pictures, stories,

laughs, tears, and Bernie's favorites snacks.

Bernard Alan "Bernie" Bottenberg left this world for his next big adventure on July 24, 2014. Bernie was born on February 20, 1940, to Lorene Viola Spiker Bottenberg and Warren Edwin Bottenberg in Holton, Kansas. He attended school in Holton and graduated from Holton High School in 1958. After high school he graduated from Emporia State University with a bachelor's degree in business.

Bernie was a member of the Kansas National Guard for six years. He completed his service as an E-6 Staff Sargent.

Although Bernie was married several times throughout his life, his children's favorite marriage was to Faith Irene Nelson, their mother. Bernie and Faith eloped to Norman, Oklahoma, on September 15, 1962. This marriage produced four awesome children, all of whom adore their parents. Sixteen years to the day later, Bernie and Faith ended their marriage. Their children are forever grateful for the friendship their parents maintained throughout the years. Sometimes people aren't meant to stay married.

At the age of 74 Bernie still didn't know what he wanted to do when he grew up.

Bernie was an adventurous eccentric and he pursued a myriad of interests. Whatever he enjoyed he threw himself into; he especially enjoyed inventing sail cars (with no brakes, actually; he never worried too much about stopping, just going), a modern-day weed-eater, launchers for just about anything (potatoes, bottle rockets, etc.), and the ever-popular opossum and coyote catchers. He loved painting, bartending, bird-owning, fireworks, sailing, fishing (even though his grandkids always out-fished him!), lighthouses, e-bay, making malts and riding trains with his great-grandson Rhoan (a.k.a. "Leadbutt," as Bernie affectionately called him), and being the kind of man who deserved to be called "Crampurt" by 11 grandchildren. One of Bernie's favorite claims to fame was the year he was the oldest "birthday boy" to celebrate at Chuck E. Cheese's; all the other kids were jealous of his 64 birthday candles!

Throughout his life Bernie worked in numerous interesting professions. He preferred to be the creative genius behind whatever business he was involved in at the time. He worked with BMB Company (of which his father was a founding member), Affiliated Leasing Co., Bottenberg Auto, Jackson Co. Development Company, Lure-'Em-In (bait shop),the Relay Station Resort in Pagosa Springs, CO, and the KRBN radio station, Beartooth Weekly newspaper, and Snag Bar (co-owner) in Red Lodge, MT. He was also a Realtor in Topeka, KS, and worked in sales for various radio stations throughout the area.He actually owned and operated radio stations in NE, GA, MO, LA, and AR at one time or another. He even founded the MGA radio broadcast and called games for the Lady Jayhawks for a number of years.

Bernie is survived by his friend Faith Nelson; daughters Lori Boyd and Abra Friess (both of whom insist they are the #1 daughter); sons B and Charlie Bottenberg (both of whom share a secret genetic trait passed down from their father); sons-in-law (whom Bernie considered sons), Kyle Boyd and Joe Friess; grandkids Christi, Jordan, Ally, Molly, Ivy, Laurel, Dane, Jeroen, Zoe, Cecilia, and Sophia; great-grandson Rhoan; grandson-in-law Nick Anderson; brothers John (Carol McDowell) and Warren D. Bottenberg; aunt/surrogate mother Irene Cowger (his mother's twin sister); several nieces and nephews (some of whom enjoyed his sense of humor more than others), and numerous other family members (hey, this is a really big family).

Bernie is preceded in death by his parents, whom he loved with his whole heart and told stories about every chance he had. He is also preceded in death by his sister-in-law Barbara Bottenberg and an infant sister.

Bernie was the type of man who was genuinely interested in every person he met. His legacy is kindness, compassion, laughter, sarcastic humor, raunchy jokes, collecting, dreaming, negotiating the best possible bargain, coining the phrase "temporary-permanent loan," and always knowing how to take something and make it better. Bernie was very proud of being a lefty, often boasting about how being left-handed was the only thing that kept him in his right mind.

Bernie also leaves behind bags of address labels, greeting cards, dream catchers, buttons, pendants, magnets and certificates because he gave money to almost every single charity that solicited him via U.S. mail. When he couldn't mail checks anymore he became a tissue donor.

The staff at Stormont-Vail Health Center treated Bernie and his family with exceptional care and compassion during a very difficult time. Words cannot express how eternally grateful his family is for the honesty, respect, hot coffee, warm blankets, hugs, and Kleenexes.

Making plans and tying up loose ends after the loss of a loved one is never easy; Bernie's kids have found that Topeka is chock-full of wonderful people who go above and beyond to help. Please continue to make this Topeka's claim to fame.

"I am Bernie Bottenberg and I approve this obituary."