Bernard T. Windauer, 65

Bernie Windauer passed away on Jan. 23, 2020, of natural causes while traveling home to Kalispell.

Bernie was born to Robert and Bernadine Windauer on June 20, 1954, in Evergreen Park, Illinois, and grew up surrounded by his five siblings and many relatives. He followed family to Montana where he fell in love with the mountains, rivers, and his soon-to-be-wife, Leslie Newman, whom he married in 1977. While at Montana State University, he enjoyed skiing and competing in the College of Engineering concrete canoe races. After graduating in 1980 in construction engineering, he designed earth moving equipment in Billings for a year before he and Leslie ventured to San Diego for nearly 10 years of sailing, SCUBA diving, and work in the defense and aerospace industry putting satellites into space. It was here he got involved in amateur radios, both as an operator and working on towers — including one for Sea World to communicate with penguin researchers in Antarctica. In 1987, Bernie and Leslie finally returned to Montana to raise a family and enjoy the camping, floating and forests Bernie loved.

Bernie was a devoted husband, attentive father and adoring grandfather. He was also a loyal and honorable friend. Bernie was active in all facets of the community, coaching his children’s soccer and shooting sports teams, and volunteering extensively in devotion to his Catholic faith. He loved to mentor and enjoyed truly connecting with people, especially in far-flung corners of the world during travels with his wife and family. He raised his children on legends of the Bob Marshall, introducing them to remote stretches of the South Fork and “dancing with the water” in his kayak. He was also a remarkable competitive shooter.

Bernie’s passion was service — for his family, community and country. He was a truly brilliant engineer, designing innovative test fixtures, more effective industrial equipment and systems, and creating visionary designs for the best firearms and optics companies in the world, and was recognized by the Pentagon for his role in ending the first Gulf War. There was nothing he could not fix, or would not try, for anyone who asked. From designing a train engine to testing arrow flight accuracy, from repairing vandalized religious statues to healing his children’s broken hearts, there was no problem he would not tackle. He was always the one you would call. Bernie cared deeply — and was deeply loved — by family and friends alike. He will be greatly missed.

Bernie is survived by his wife Leslie, children Erin Windauer, Dan Windauer, and Heidi Becksted, her husband Blayde, grandchildren Liam and Quinn, and siblings Bob Windauer, Barb Wolgast, Bill Windauer, and Bernadette Windauer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Bea (Moenich) Windauer, and sister, Bette Carlos.

Bernie’s celebration of life is today, Jan. 28, at 11 a.m. at Risen Christ Catholic Church in Evergreen.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Engineers Without Borders at ewb-usa.org/donate to continue his life’s work of engineering in the service of others.