Bernard Foulk

Bernard Foulk ObituaryBernard Clayton Foulk was a lover of the cat, the chicken, and the squirrel. Gentle enough that chipmunks ate from his hand. Strong enough that his hugs made your back crack. Joyful enough that he made sour times sweet. From his high school days in suburban Kansas City, when he rarely drove his flashy Mustang because of all the girls clamoring to take him to school, until just now, when his friends and family crowded the nurses out of his hospital room, people gravitated towards him. They saw his love for others and for life. Oh, Happy Bernie. If Bernie was there, it was a good time, and chances are he'd send you home with soup. The only thing that could ever drive people away was his assertive flatulence.

Bernie was a lover of the learning. He had an incredible mind that could sop up everything you flung at it. He took advantage of his gift, earning a bachelor's degree in trumpet from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and master's degrees in organ and library science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught himself plumbing, boiler repair, programming, mad gardening science, electrical wiring and historic home restoration, among other things. Some people, if they're lucky, have a knack for this or that. Bernie had a lot of knacks.

Bernie was a lover of the music. After his first piano lesson, eight-year-old Bernie ran to his mom, Ollie, grinning ear to ear, having that first arpeggio of many under his belt. Music struck a chord. With its blend of sensual beauty and mathematical complexity, music was his mind's lifelong playmate.

Bernie was a lover of the Jackie Stilger. He met Jackie, his most sacred love, at First United Methodist Church. Jackie led the choir. Bernie played the organ. Together, they were an angelic duet. Bernie and Jackie made themselves an incredible home in the old mayor's mansion in downtown Kalamazoo. He spent eighteen years renovating it, building a dazzling, cozy space where he and Jackie surrounded themselves with music, flowers, family, chickens and their eggs.

Bernie was a true renaissance man who heartily embraced beauty wherever he could find it and never let it go. He brought passion and vigor to everything he did. As a musician, homeowner, chef, husband and friend, Bernie pulled out all the stops.

Bernie was born in Lenexa, Kansas, on June 29, 1974. He died in Kalamazoo on May 8. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Stilger, and her children Carsten, Drew, and Avery Strand; his parents, Lon and Ollie Foulk; his siblings, Jon and Donna Foulk; nephews Hans and Roch; and his beloved cat, Teaberry.

A service of remembrance will be held later.