Bernie Spielhagen

Graveside services for Mr. Bernard Christian “Bernie” Spielhagen, 75, of Grand Saline, TX, are scheduled for 11 a.m., Friday, June 6, 2025, at Creagleville Cemetery, under the direction of Bartley Funeral Home, Grand Saline.

Bernie Spielhagen passed away on May 28, 2025, in Grand Saline, Texas. He was born on October 23, 1949, in Staten Island, New York, to Fredric William and Helen Mary Schneider Spielhagen.

Bernie was raised in Staten Island and joined the United States Coast Guard after graduating high school. He was stationed in Boston, Massachusetts, and proudly served his country from 1967 to 1969. During his time in Massachusetts, he contributed to the restoration of the Battleship Massachusetts and pursued higher education at Northeastern University in Boston, where he earned a degree in Nursing. He went on to work as a Registered Nurse at Taunton State Hospital and Bridgewater State Prison, both in Massachusetts. A passionate history enthusiast, Bernie also enjoyed assembling model trains and military models, many of which were featured in military memorial site displays.

In 1993, Bernie relocated to Texas and later settled in the Grand Saline area in 2008. He continued his career in nursing at Terrell State Hospital, where he served with compassion and dedication for nearly a decade.
Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, Fredric and Helen Spielhagen; and his brothers, “Little Fredric” and Gerard Spielhagen.

He will be remembered for his love of history, his service to others through nursing, and his creative passion for military modeling.

Survivors include his wife of 14 years, Lana Jones of Grand Saline; three sons, Bernard “Chris” Spielhagen II (Rosie) of Massachusetts, Sean Spielhagen (Stephanie) of Clarksville, and Fredric Spielhagen (Krystin) of Corinth; two daughters, Jessica Keegan (Joe) of Vero Beach, FL, and Samantha Blain (Clifton) of Denton; 4 stepsons, Daniel Jones, Christopher Jones, Timothy Jones, and Joseph Jones; sister, Freddie Anne Quilla (Thomas) of Wilmington, NY; sister-in-law, Dr. Fran Spielhagen of Warwick, NY; seventeen grandchildren; and numerous other relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends at 10 a.m., Friday, at the funeral home.