Bernard "Bernie" May

October 24, 1926 - February 20, 2021

Bernard P. "Bernie" May, 94, of Richmond, IL, passed away on February 20, 2021. He was born at home in Spring Grove, IL, on the family's dairy farm on October 24, 1926, the fourth child of the late Benjamin and Emma (Freund) May. He was married to Darlene (Harris) Rudolph on July 6, 1996, in Spring Grove, IL. He was previously married to Mae May in 1947 who passed away December 24, 2007. He was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church in Spring Grove, where he served as lector and talented vocalist. He graduated from Richmond High School in 1944. He was a stone mason/bricklayer and general contractor all his life, working for Tonyan Construction, then co-establishing and operating Heelein & May Construction in Richmond for over 18 years. During that time, his company built several commercial buildings including the Spring Grove Elementary School, the Evergreen Elementary School in Union, IL, Richmond Elementary School, Canterbury School in Crystal Lake, Il and Shepherd of the Hills Church in McHenry, Il and many other important projects. He was a member of Bricklayers Union Local #27 of Elgin, retiring in 1991. As a youngster, he worked on the family farm. He was a particularly good mathematics student, and accomplished athlete, especially when playing basketball and softball. He was a leader: coaching boys' Little League and Pony Leagues teams; leading his construction crew; in the lead at his golf tournaments; a member of the Hole In One Club; and in the lead on the dance floor. He loved to camp, bowl, fish and hunt. Dancing and playing cards, euchre, were favorites as was wintering in sunny Arizona for 12 years. Especially during his retirement, he was an avid Chicago Cubs and Bears fan, rarely missing a televised game. Bernie is survived by his wife Darlene; four daughters: Felecia (Don) Englert, of Williams Bay, WI; Scarlet (John) McGowan, of Woodstock, IL; Denise (Orvel) Wilson, of Golden, CO; Anastasia (Robert) Stetter, of Elkhorn, WI; three sons: Brook May, of DeKalb, IL; Chad (Pam) May, of Spring Grove; Luke May, of Spring Grove; a sister, Joan (John) Popelka, of Spring Grove; step children: William (Suellen) Rudolph of Casco, WI, Ronald (Colleen) Rudolph of Spring Grove, IL, David (Diana) Rudolph of Spring Grove, IL, and Debra (James) Dudley, of Morro Bay, California, 13 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, eight step grandchildren and four step great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Frances Waghorn-Homeier, his son-in-law, Ronald Waghorn, his granddaughter, Lauren Waghorn (Chris) Staley, his three sisters: Arlene May, Estelle (Steve) Schmitt, Shirley (John) Sanders, and his brother, Alan May (Joan). Visitation will be on Thursday, February 25 at Ehorn-Adams Funeral Home, 10011 Main Street, Richmond, IL from 3:00 to 7:00. Masks and social distancing are required. Restricted capacity and visitation time applies per Illinois guidelines. Mass of the Resurrection at 10:00 on Friday, February 26 at St. Peter Church, 2118 Main Street, Spring Grove, IL. Masks and social distancing required. Restricted capacity per Illinois guidelines. Interment will be private at St. Peter Cemetery. The family asks that donations be made to JourneyCare Foundation, 405 North Lake Zurich Road, Barrington, IL, 60010 or on line at www.journeycare.org. For information, please call Ehorn Adams Funeral Home 815-678-7311 or visit www.ehornadams.com.