McKinley Sr., Bernard 'Bernie' L.

Bernard “Bernie” L. McKinley Sr., of Waterloo, died Thursday, May 6, 2010, at Covenant Medical Center from a sudden illness. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Cedar Valley Community Church, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery, Waterloo. Public visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today and for an hour before services Monday at the church.

He was born Nov. 23, 1928, in Urbana, son of Grover and Pauline Hoffman McKinley. He married Dorothy Ann Strong on June 11, 1950, at Collegiate Methodist Church, Ames. Bernie was employed with Prudential Insurance for 32 years, retiring as branch manager in 1984. He was mayor of Waterloo from 1986 to 1992.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; two sons, Bernard “Skip” (Dema) McKinley Jr. of Waterloo and Danny (Sharon) McKinley of Rollingstone, Minn.; three daughters, Kathy (Dave) Merry and Beth (Scott) Hottle, both of Waterloo, and Becky (Phil) Smith of Hazel Green, Wis.; 12 grandchildren, Heidi, Andy, Lindsey, Matt, Molly, Jared, Rachael, Kenny, Sam, Caleb, Michelle and Cassie; three great-grandchildren, Benjamin, August and Elijah; a sister, Elizabeth Heiserman of Independence; and an extensive extended family.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Clifford McKinley.

Memorials may be directed to New Beginnings First Wesleyan Church or the United Way.

Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway in Waterloo is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be left at