Br. Bernard Taube, SCJ, died on June 26 in Farmington, MN; he was 91. In recent years he had been under the care of family in Minnesota; he went into hospice just days before he passed. Br. Bernie was born in Cannon Falls, MN and was raised in New Trier. Both he and a sister entered religious life.
Br. Bernie professed his first vows with the Priests of the Sacred Heart nearly 75 years ago (March 19, 1950), with the intent of being a farmer for the community. At that time, the province harvested much of its own food on farms attached to the seminaries. He worked at Sacred Heart Monastery (which now includes Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology), Sacred Heart Novitiate (Ste. Marie, IL), St. Joseph’s Retreat Center (Baileys Harbor, WI), Kilroe Seminary (Honesdale, PA) and Divine Heart Seminary (Donaldson, IN).
When the farms were phased out, Br. Bernie continued to attend to the maintenance needs of the province, but his fellow SCJs encouraged him to consider other options. After taking career counseling tests, he applied to Cardinal Stritch University and studied sociology.
“It was a little intimidating to return to school in my 50s,” said Br. Bernie. But he did it, and at the age of 58, earned his bachelor’s in sociology. He also earned an associate’s degree from Milwaukee Area Technical School.
Following graduation from Stritch, Br. Bernie worked for several years with Milwaukee’s SET Ministries (Service, Empowerment and Transformation), doing home visits and direct service.
Funeral arrangements are in process. Br. Bernie will be buried with family near New Trier.
