Bernell Ramlo, age 97, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 31, 2026, at The Highlands in Decorah, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026, at Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago Street, Decorah, Iowa, with Pastor Peter Kowitz presiding. Private burial will be in the Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 9:45 a.m. until 10:45 am at the church on Friday morning.

Bernell (Bernie) was born July 21, 1929, in Decorah, Iowa, the son of Howard and Gladys (Foss) Ramlo. He graduated from Decorah High School in 1947. He met and married Milly Bigler in 1959, and they were married for 67 years. Bernie and Milly were members of Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah for nearly 7 decades.

Education was extremely important to Bernie, and he worked diligently so that his siblings and children could attend college. He loved attending his kids and grandkids' sporting events through the years.

Playing fast pitch softball was Bernie’s great passion in life. In several years, he played more games than a major league team would play. He played in multiple states, and was happy to sub for most any team that needed a player. Later in his life, he converted from fast pitch to modified pitch softball, where he played in a national tournament at the young age of 55. He continued to play into his 60s, and when he was all done, he had played in six different decades. After retirement, he attended several World Softball Federation tournaments. He also enjoyed travel and visited Alaska for a month, Ireland and Cuba before Castro.

In addition to softball, Bernie enjoyed Hawkeye Sports. He was a multi-year season ticket holder for Iowa football. He attended the 1957 Rose Bowl, which he talked about often. Toward the end, he also worked on a lot of puzzle books to keep his mind sharp. It sure seems to have worked.

Bernie was A lifelong walker. After softball, he walked every single day, 365 days a year, going through more than one set of hiking boots a year. He would often report all of the wildlife that he saw on his hikes. Not that it is a hobby, but he loved rocking chairs. He could sit by the hour rocking and reading.

Bernie worked for over 40 years for Kies Electric and Supply of Waterloo, Iowa, selling electrical products. He traveled northeast Iowa on the road and racked up between 50,000 and 60,000 miles a year. He decided to retire when they wanted him to carry a cell phone.

Bernie is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mildred (Milly). Four children, Randy (Lisa), Terry Ramlo, and Brenda Ramlo, all of Decorah, and Dave Ramlo of Frisco, Colorado. Two grandchildren Alexa Ramlo of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Connor Ramlo (Abbey) of Minneapolis, Minnesota. And a younger brother, Clair Ramlo (Barb), of Oelwein, Iowa, and a recent new great-grandbaby, Cooper Ramlo of Minneapolis, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Gladys Ramlo, as well as a brother, Peter Ramlo, and a sister, Marilyn Ramlo, as well as other family members.

The family gives great thanks to the dedicated workers at WinnMed Hospital, Gunderson Lutheran Hospital and clinics, as well as Highlands Nursing Home. Everyone always worked hard despite Bernie, not always being the easiest patient. We hope the complaint department at the next stage of his journey is well staffed.