Bernadine L. Zurcher

Bernadine L. Zurcher, 92, of Fort Wayne, Ind., formerly of Berne, Ind. passed away Thursday, April 28, 2022 at her daughter’s home. Born on October 20, 1929 in Berne, she was a daughter of the late Homer and Hilda (Moser) Amstutz.

Bernadine and her high school sweetheart, Rev. John Zurcher, Jr., were happily married for 73 years before he preceded her in death on December 27, 2021. Together they built a home of love and faith, served God in ministry, and left a legacy of faith in Jesus to their family and all who knew them.

Bernadine graduated from Geneva High School in 1947 as salutatorian of her class. She later attended Fort Wayne Bible College and graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, Magna Cum Laude. Bernadine ministered alongside her husband as a Pastor’s wife at Union Church in Bryant, Ind., Hollywood Missionary Church in Fort Wayne, and Fort McKinley Missionary Church in Dayton, Ohio, and as a District Superintendent’s wife on the Eastern District of the Missionary Church. Bernadine and her husband were missionaries in Haiti with the Missionary Church for 20 years.

As a missionary, Bernadine was a teacher: she taught her children’s schooling through correspondence courses, led Bible classes for missionary children and Haitians, taught cooking to her Haitian house helpers, and taught adult Haitians to read. One of the things that thrilled her was watching the excitement of her students as they learned to read. She was also a musician, leading a women’s choir, playing the accordion and teaching others to play, giving piano lessons to missionary children, and recording music for the radio. As a writer, she wrote and translated Sunday School materials and compiled a family cookbook in Haitian Creole, and she wrote a book to teach the Creole language and an English-Creole dictionary. She also helped organize youth camps and conferences for hundreds and was a gracious hostess to many in her home.

Bernadine enjoyed sewing, crafts, singing in the choir, playing the piano, gardening, and flower-arranging. She was a gifted painter, and many family members and friends will treasure her oil paintings. Most of all, she loved the time she could spend with her family. She was passionate to the end about witnessing faithfully to others about God’s love and salvation, encouraging them to read His Word and learn to know and follow Jesus. She will be remembered for her joyful smile and contagious laugh.

Surviving are her son, Steven (Lynn) Zurcher of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; son, Deryll (Bonnie) Zurcher of Berne, Ind.; daughter, Janita (Marcus) Dye of Fort Wayne, Ind.; son, Stuart (Julie) Zurcher of Newton, Iowa; brother, Gene (Dorothy) Amstutz of Berne, Ind.; sister, Carol Hill of Huntington, Ind.; brother, Larry (Pat) Amstutz of Fort Wayne, Ind.; 15 grandchildren and their spouses; 4 step-grandchildren and their spouses; 21 great-grandchildren; 8 step-great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 13, at 10:30 a.m. at First Missionary Church in Berne, Ind., with Pastor Dathen Foust officiating. Friends and family will be received from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Burial will take place in M.R.E. Cemetery. Preferred memorials are to World Partners (Missionary Church).

Arrangements are by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Yager – Kirchhofer Chapel in Berne, Indiana.