Barney J. Langner EDGETA Branch 3 - 1921 - 2003

BERNARD J. LANGNER

Died Thursday, January 2, 2003 at the age of 81 years. Beloved husband of 58 years to M. Virginia Langner of Hayward. Loving father of Pamela Brownlee of Arkansas, Bernard J. (and Denise) Langner Jr. of Santa Cruz, Kristin Strege of Fremont, Deidre (and Ken) Meyers of San Leandro, and Laurie Langner of Castro Valley. Devoted grandfather of ten and great grandfather of five. Dear brother of Teresa Reagan and Edward Langner, both of Missouri. A 33 year employee of Hunt-Wesson and affiliates United Can and Glass Containers, he was a life member in the National Association of Purchasing Managers and the Northern California Purchasing Association where he served three terms on the Board Directors. A member and Board of Director of the Hayward Trade Club, he also served three time Board of Directors. A member of the Board of Director of the Hayward Trade Club, he also served on the Hayward C of C Industrial Committee. He held a lifetime membership in the PTA and had been President of the Winton Junior High PTA. A Pearl Harbor survivor, he was active in the PHSA, and a past president of Kaneohe Klippers an organization of survivors stationed on Kaneohe that fateful Sunday morning December 7, 1941. An active member and former Secretary/Treasurer of the Early Days Gas Engine and Tractor Assn. Branch 3 and also a member of Branch 13. A CCD teacher at St. Joachim’s Church, a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus and an active participant in many church activities.

President Branch 3, Chuck Schoppe’s memorial message:
In Tribute to Barney

I first met Barney at the Santa Clara County Fair many years ago. We were both members of our hobby club, the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association, and were exhibiting our collections of old engines and tractors with other members of our organization. I had many long conversations with Barney during the several days that we were there and I gained an immediate respect for him and his life’s experiences. He impressed me very much and I told my wife Peggy about the friendly guy that I had met. Over the years our friendship with Barney transcended our mutual interests in old machinery. Peggy and I always looked forward to our visits and we valued the time shared with this gentle man with his ready smile and twinkle in his eyes.

Barney was all about caring, giving and helping, and for that he gained and held the friendship of many, as attested to by all of you who have come to honor and remember his life this evening. He was a charter member of our California Branch 3 of the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association and was, perhaps, our greatest supporter. For his many contributions, we honored him with a lifetime membership. He led and served our group in many ways over the past 25 years, and was actively involved to the end. Besides serving in elected offices, Barney was an organizer of many of our most successful shows and exhibits. His writing skills were read and appreciated by all who receive our newsletter. He will leave behind a void that cannot be filled.

Barney’s life was far too short – and to say that he will be missed by all of us would be an understatement. His sudden and unexpected passing should be a poignant reminder to us all of the fragile hold on life we really have.

Barney has been called home now, and it is not be for us to understand why. However, in memory of Barney, we can learn from his life, and carry on the values by which he lived and by his example instilled in all of us who knew and loved him: his great faith and trust in God; his love for his wife Virginia and for his family and his many friends; his love of and pride in our great country; his genuine respect for literally everyone that he knew, and his great willingness to share of himself and of his time.

Good bye for now, Barney! We miss you deeply, but you’ll be forever, in our hearts.

Chuck Schoppe and Branch 3