Bernard E. Mahowald
Bernard E. Mahowald, age 87 of Prior Lake, MN went peacefully to his eternal home on May 25, 2026.
A Visitation will be held from 3:00 – 7:00 PM on Friday, May 29, 2026 at St. Michael Catholic Church (16400 Duluth Ave SE) in Prior Lake, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM with additional Visitation from 9:00 – 10:45 AM on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at St. Michael Catholic Church. Father Tom Walker will preside. Interment to follow the Mass where Bernard will be laid to rest at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery in Prior Lake, MN.
Bernard Emil was born to Sylvester and Anna (Kadrlik) Mahowald on August 8, 1938, in New Prague, MN. He grew up on the family farm in New Market, MN, along with his six siblings. Life on farm taught him the values of hard work, community service and staying true to your faith. He graduated high school from Bethlehem Academy in Faribault, MN, something that he was very proud of. After his graduation he entered the workforce doing various jobs.
As a creative and restless spirit, Bernie and his brother Francis went into the home building business together and founded Mahowald Builders in 1962. Bernie had incredible vision and skill in this demanding industry. His most remarkable building projects were the Mystic Lake Bingo teepee, the family-room addition to St. Michael’s Church and building a true replica of the oval office for a client, which was even featured on an episode of HGTV. Mahowald Builders is truly his lasting legacy as Bernie’s children continue to operate the company today.
One evening on a chance encounter, Bernie had great fortune to meet the love of his life, Judith Claire Caduff. The two were joyfully united in marriage at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on September 28, 1963, and were blessed with 60 wonderful years. They enjoyed a marvelous honeymoon together driving Bernie’s 1957 Ford Retractable all the way to California! Years later they had this same car beautifully restored and continued to enjoy their drives on sunny, summer days.
A pillar of the community, Bernie willfully shared his talents and gifts of leadership and generosity to many local events, such as the Pork & Suds fundraiser benefiting St. Michael’s School and cooking chicken for the Prior Lake Fireman’s Picnic, the Sno Trails landowner’s picnic and St. Michael’s Aprilfest. He simply loved helping out in his community and its people.
As much as Bernie knew the fruits of hard work, he also knew the enjoyment of recreation and the great outdoors. His favorite activities were fishing for walleye, snowmobiling, relaxing at the family cabin he built on Kego Lake in Longville and many deer hunting trips to Wyoming. Bernie planted a large garden and in his generous spirit he shared the bounty of his produce with family, friends and acquaintances. Upon retirement, Bernie & Judy were thrilled to escape the Minnesota winter chill to their Palm Springs, CA, condo where they played golf, soaked up the sun and had endless fun adventures.
Throughout his life, Bernie knew the importance of having a strong and sturdy foundation to build upon, whether that be in building structures, his marriage, his family or his faith. His unique laugh, his story telling, his funny nicknames for many and his dear friends who were his brotherhood are all things that will be greatly missed. He was charming, inspirational and he was our beloved patriarch.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the dedicated caregivers who provided compassionate support to both Judy and Bernie over the years. We greatly appreciate all you have done to help our parents remain in the comfort of their home until their last moments.
Bernard leaves behind his children, Mark “Sparky” (Susie) Mahowald, Robert (Amy) Mahowald, Barry (Molly) Mahowald, Shari (Joe) Mertens; grandchildren, Melissa, Ellie, Claire (Vincent), Shane, Myles, Benjamin, Nicholas, Jacob (Kenzie) and Kaylee (Coleson); siblings, Lloyd (Jan) Mahowald, Michael (Sharon) Mahowald and Barbara Mahowald; and many other loving family and friends.
Bernard will be reunited in heaven with his wife, Judith Mahowald; parents Sylvester and Anna Mahowald; siblings Alice (Bob) Pivec, Francis (Mary Ann) Mahowald and Tom Mahowald.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation
