Our brilliant, funny and artistic husband, father and grandfather, Bernard “Bernie” L. Jansen, one of the founders and advisers of Realty Presentations and an inventor and innovator throughout his life, died on Dec. 4, 2013, after a long and brave battle with dementia.
When it came to creation, Mr. Jansen held a long list of accomplishments. His work as an inventor included: Creation of the first airborne radar system (AWAC), that is still in use today, development of the first handheld calculator (the Bowmar Brain) and the development and construction of the first surveillance Drone, equipment used in Desert Storm by the U.S. Marine Corps.
Mr. Jansen was a graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He responded to his entrepreneurial passion by founding his own corporation, Inductive Components, in Long Island, N.Y.
Mr. Jansen’s family is forever grateful for his undying zest for life and his thirst for knowledge. He raised his six children in a home by the Long Island Sound that he designed, and largely built, with his own two hands. Always positive, he had the capacity to make all strangers feel welcome with his curiosity and unwavering wit.
A self-taught pianist, Mr. Jansen could play any song by ear and did so until days before his death. He will always be remembered for wearing his beloved blue jumpsuit, doing the New York Times Sunday Crossword in pen, his genuine laugh and his penmanship that looked like a work of art. Forever a tinkerer and quality craftsman, he blessed his children and grandchildren with many handmade keepsakes that will live on for generations to come.
Mr. Jansen was born on Aug. 29, 1933 in Stamford, Conn. to Marie and Max Jansen and is survived by his wife of 58 years, Patricia; children, Dr. Maura Lindbergh and husband, Jon, Carrie Spurney and husband, Joe, Greg Jansen and wife, Gina, Christine Hackeling and husband, Mike, David Jansen and wife, Dr. Doricela Janse and Jennifer Dahl and husband, Jason; 16 grandchildren, Anne and Alena Lindbergh, Ryan Spurney, Kate, Claire and Christine Jansen, Gavin, Jenny, Emily and Justin Hackeling, Neve and Marina Jansen and Jocelyn, Bennett, William and Audrey Dahl.
Although happy memories of our loved one remain deep, we would like to express our gratitude to all those who helped Mr. Jansen at the end of his life. He was cared for with the dignity that he deserved and we are indebted to the staff at Trinity Grove Memory Unit for treating him with the respect and kindness that he always showed others.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, at Andrews Mortuary, 1617 Market St., Wilmington. Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, 2013, at the Basilica Shrine of St. Mary, 412 Ann St., Wilmington, NC.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Trinity Grove in the name Bernard Jansen: Trinity Grove, 631 Junction Creek Dr., Wilmington, N.C. 28412.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Andrews Mortuary.
To view a full listing of PortCityDaily obituaries, click here.
