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Dr. William O. Berndt, 73, of Fort Calhoun, died Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006, at the Nebraska Medical Center, due to ongoing lung complications.

A funeral Mass is planned for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun. Interment will be in the Fort Calhoun Cemetery.

William O. Berndt was born May 11, 1933 in St. Joseph, Mo. He was married Aug. 28, 1954, in Dubuque, Iowa.

Dr. Berndt received his under graduate degree from the Creighton University College of Pharmacy in 1954, and his Ph. D. in pharmacology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1959.

He served on the faculty at Dartmouth Medical School for 13 years and the University of Mississippi Medical Center for eight years.

Dr. Berndt was the former chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He joined UNMC in 1982 and held several key administrative posts over the next 20-plus years, serving as chancellor from 1996 to 1998. He was the seventh full-time chancellor in UNMC history and was one of the key leaders in the 1997 merger of Clarkson Hospital and University Hospital which created the Nebraska Medical Center.

Berndt joined UNMC as professor of pharmacology and dean for graduate studies and research and was elevated to vice chancellor until his retirement in 2002, with the stint interrupted only when he served as interim chancellor in 1991-1992 and chancellor in 1996-1998.

After retiring as vice chancellor, he remained active at UNMC, serving as interim chairman of the pharmacology department from 2002 to 2004; and chairing the search committees for two different departments in 2003 and 2004.

He was a prolific researcher and published more than 270 articles, abstracts and book chapters in scientific journals, and made presentations or lectures at more than 70 scientific meetings.

He was a diplomate for both the American Board of Toxicology and the Academy of Toxicological Sciences, and was a fellow in the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education.

Dr. Berndt was a member of the following professional societies; American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Heart Association; American Society of Nephrology; American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics; International Society of Biochemical Pharmacology; International Society of Nephrology; International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics; and the Medicinal Chemistry Section of the American Chemical Society Sigma Xi Society of Toxicology.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Bonnie; daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Tim Thomas of Miami, Fla., Carol and Michael Peters of Blair, and Mary Joan Gammons of Fort Calhoun; sons and daughter-in-law, David Berndt of Independence, Mo., and Paul and Clara Berndt of Austin, Texas; three sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law, 13 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and 23 nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to the University of Nebraska Foundation William Berndt Memorial Fund.

Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Omaha World Herald 2 Sept 2006

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Berndt – William “Bill” O., age 73 of Fort Calhoun, NE. Survived by wife of 52 years, Bonnie Berndt of Fort Calhoun, NE; daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Tim Thomas of Miami, FL, Carol and Michael Peters of Blair, NE; son, David Berndt of Independence, MO; daughter; Mary Joan Gammons of Fort Calhoun, NE; son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Clara Berndt of Austin, TX; three sisters-in-law; three brothers-in-law; 13 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, 23 nieces and nephews.

Visitation Monday, September 4, 2006 starting at 4:00 pm with Vigil Service at 7:00 pm, both at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun, NE. Funeral Mass: Tuesday, September 5, 2006 at 10:00 am at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun, NE. Interment: at Fort Calhoun Cemetery, Fort Calhoun, NE. Memorials: In lieu of traditional remembrances, memorials are suggested to University of Nebraska Foundation William Berndt Memorial Fund.

Sievers-Sprick Ft. Calhoun, NE 402-468-5678

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~