Jay M Bernhisel

Jay M. Bernhisel
September 30, 1932 - November 26, 2017
Jay M. Bernhisel has joined Janet, his wife of 60 years, on their next great adventure. Jay passed away in his sleep Nov. 26, 2017, exactly six weeks after Jan's death.
Jay will be interred at the Lewiston, UT, Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 1 p.m. Please join us for a graveside service to remember his life.
Jay was born Sept. 30, 1932, in Logan, Utah, to Marie America Beirdneau and Harris Fay Bernhisel. Jay was the youngest of five children and was raised on a farm in Lewiston during the Great Depression. Early in his life, Jay gained an appreciation of hard work, family and a love of science and nature.
In 1951, Jay enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and trained as a navigator, a skill he would continue to use on his many travels. He attended Utah State University on an ROTC scholarship and graduated with a degree in microbiology.
While serving active duty in the Air Force, he met and fell in love with a teacher named Janet Rosenlof from Portland, Oregon. On July 5, 1957, Jay and Jan started their world tour together by marrying in the Logan LDS Temple. A honeymoon in Europe was the first of a lifetime of expeditions they would take together to all 50 states, 51 countries and six continents. They never tired of learning new things, facing new challenges and subjecting their children to strange foods in foreign lands.
Just three months after marriage, Sputnik changed the course of Jay's life. An increased emphasis on science and education propelled Jay to U.C. Berkeley, then teaching, and ultimately Fort Bragg High School as a biology teacher. Jay taught at FBHS for more than 30 years. He inspired thousands to love science and the world around them.
Jay loved everything about the Mendocino Coast: the ever-changing ocean, the majesty of the redwood forest, the variety of plants and animals, and the compassionate people who live there.
Jay's greatest legacy will ultimately be his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He instilled in each of them a love of travel, chocolate, photography, tide pools, eating out and hiking in beautiful places.
Jay and Janet retired in Logan, Utah, where they continued to serve in their church and community, make great friends, and enjoy travel and culture. They extended that desire to serve by fulfilling an LDS mission to Lithuania.
During his last several years, Jay's great motivation was caring for his wife. As Jan's health declined, he became her devoted advocate. Her death six weeks ago was a shock that he didn't recover from. We're grateful they're together for the next part of their journey.
Jay is survived by his three sons: David (Debbie) of Farmington, Utah; Steven (Donna) of McMinnville, Oregon; and John (Sally) of Cowley, Wyoming. He also has 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Allen Mortuary of North Logan will be handling the interment. In lieu of flowers, please find a way to donate to your local school to support another generation of learners.