Bernie joined this beautiful world May 13, 1939, in Klamath Falls, Ore. He was born to Bernard “Pop” and Berniece (Baker) Bleha, the eldest of four boys.
His mother was busy with twins at home, so at age eight, he was sent to Bristol Boys School, a Catholic orphanage, temporarily along with his brother, Jon, to work on the agricultural farm for several weeks. He remembered they picked beans until Jon got sick from eating them. Bernie and his brothers, Jon, Don and Dave, enjoyed many happy summers in West Seattle finding innocent trouble as kids do.
In 1952, at age 13, he was apprenticed to an architectural firm in downtown Seattle. Eventually, he was allowed to do some drawings but overall was not happy being there. However, they did pay him at the end of summer. Bernie always thought his dad had provided the money he was paid.
For 12 years, Bernie attended parochial school, finishing up at O’Dea High School, graduating in 1957. Daily, he carried a brown paper bag lunch and transferred buses twice to get to school. He was very proud of attending O’Dea and remained friends with many of his classmates.
Bernie graduated from college in 1964, with a degree in graphic design and printmaking from the University of Washington. Working at a job he really enjoyed at the Sears department store in SOHO, he paid for his own education.
While at the UW, he joined the Air National Guard in the ROTC program. Shortly thereafter, he transferred to the Air Force Reserves for a total of eight years of military service.
In 1963, while at the UW, he met and married his first love, Dorlene Merrill. Receiving a Ford Foundation Research Grant to study at the Tamarine Lithography Workshop, the printing aspect of printmaking, together they moved to Los Angeles (Hollywood), Calif. He became a master printer while at Tamarine and co-founded Gemini G.E.L., an artist’s workshop and publisher of hand-printed limited-edition lithographs, screen prints, etchings and sculptures by established contemporary artists in 1965.
During this time, he moved his family to Burbank, Calif., where their first two children were born, Daelene in 1964, and Berch in 1966. That same year, he moved back to West Seattle, where they had their third child, Deniece in 1967. He worked at The Boeing Company in the facilities management department until he procured his job at Green River Community College. After only a few months, the college offered him the chairmanship of the fine arts department. He accepted that position and moved his family to Auburn, Wash., and continued to teach drawing and design. Bernie remained at GRCC for 33 years. In 2004, Green River Community College built a wonderful new building in his honor, The Bleha Center for the Performing Arts.
He continued his own education earning his master’s degree from the University of Washington and then his PhD in education in 1972, from Nova University.
Bernie met Linda Lewis when she was a student at GRCC in 1986. They fell in love and married in 1992. Last year they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. With his marriage to Linda, he gained four more children who also quickly fell in love with him.
Upon retirement, the two of them moved to their favorite home on Burnt Ridge in Onalaska. Aging parents with health issues forced them to be closer so they moved north to Lacey. The poor economy then brought them back south to Rochester, where he had his perfect gallery, studio and shop again.
While living on Burnt Ridge, he co-founded ARTrails, taught classes in his studio, participated in many art shows and was always available to help people get through their art dilemmas. He thoroughly enjoyed his interactions with students, family and friends.
Over the years, Bernie received many fun t-shirts and sweat shirts that he loved to wear. Some that read; “If my wife is not next to me, assume I am unsupervised, therefore I cannot be held accountable for my actions,” “It was me, I let the dogs out,” “Who needs hair with a body like this,” “Stand back, I’m about to ART,” and “Bernie, the man, the myth, the legend.” All were susceptible to paint.
He is survived by his wife, Linda; and all seven children and spouses, Dael and Josh Dekanu, Berch and Lora Bleha, Deniece Bleha and her husband, Paul Fouhy, Cheri and John Rehon, Valerie and Rick Secrist, Mike and Michele Karnes and Matt and Lori Karnes; 19 grand-children; seven great-grandchildren; and three sisters-in-law, that survive this funny, loving man.
A celebration of life will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, June 23, 2018, at the Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW, Olympia, Wash.
