Obituary of Adina Lois Bernreuter

Adina Lois Bernreuter had a passion for sailing and travel, and her many friends knew her unfailing sense of humor, her laughter, and her social spirit. One memorable trip had them leaving the Marina Village Yacht Harbor near the Oakland Yacht Club on their boat with their friends and sailing down the coast of California and western Mexico, a boat they had lived on for six months while their house was being remodeled. She and husband Don loved to put on a cioppino feed, complete with bibs. Adina was a classy lady who enjoyed entertaining, art, and conversation. Adina and Don spent many happy days sailing the San Francisco Bay and beyond with their cherished friends. Adina, 71, formerly of Alameda, died September 17th, in her home, after battling cancer for several years, though she did not yield to cancer until the end. Adina was born to Menno and Susanne Bergen in Shafter, CA, and raised in Santa Cruz, CA. She was a 1958 graduate of Campbell High School. Adina attended San Jose City College, and Chabot College, and spent some of her early career in nursing, and more than 20 years in interior design. She had a special appreciation and eye for beauty. Adina married Don Bernreuter on June 16, 1967 in Soquel, CA. She and Don lived in Maryland, and spent 21 years in Pleasanton, CA raising a family, as Don spent the last 25 years of his career as an engineer/seismologist for Lawrence Livermore Labs. They enjoyed family trips to Santa Cruz and Mount Hermon, CA with their children, playing at the beach and visiting family in the Redwoods. Adina shared a love of jazz music with both her children, and baking bread with them. Adina and Don moved to Alameda in 1994 and spent their years close to the water they loved so much. Adina was preceded in death by her parents Menno and Susanne Bergen, husband Don Bernreuter, her beloved children Stephany and David Bernreuter, and her brother Willard (Bill) Bergen. She is survived by sisters Dorothy Ciampa and her husband George, Marilene (Mitzi) Shinen and her husband David, brother Ray Bergen and his wife Sandy, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service is planned for October 15th from 10-12 a.m. at Johnny's Harborside Caf overlooking the Santa Cruz Harbor. Bobby Bernreuter, her nephew, will officiate. A burial at sea will follow at 1 p.m. Donations may be sent to Narsad, Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, at: 60 Cutter Mill Road, Suite 404, Great Neck, NY, 11021. Or online at: www.bbrfoundation.org/support-bbrf