Brother Bernard J.F. Lewitzke, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pa., died Tuesday, January 25, 2000, after a brief illness. He was 88 years old.

Brother Bernard was born on February 12, 1911, in Lauenberg, Germany, the son of the late Theophil Lewitzke and Marie (Felstan) Lewitzke, and was baptized John Francis. When he was 18 months old his family moved to the United States and settled in Chicago, where he attended St. Paul’s Grade School and Jones High School.

Brother Bernard entered the Saint Vincent monastic community in 1926. He began his novitiate as a lay brother in 1927 and made profession of vows on July 2, 1928.

Brother Bernard served as the miller at the Saint Vincent Gristmill from 1927 to 1950, and as a baker from 1950 to 1953. He was also socius of brothers from 1950 to 1960. From 1961 to 1967 he was sacristan at St. Mary’s Church, North Side, Pittsburgh. He was assigned to the monastery’s priory and high school in Savannah, Georgia, in 1967, working there for several years as a baker, and also teaching German privately. In 1982 he returned to the archabbey, where he did clerical work for the Development Club.

Brother Bernard is survived by three sisters, Molly Uchison of Oaklawn, Illinois; Hattie Cronk of Cicero, Illinois; and Martha Grazulis of Markham, Illinois. Two brothers, Leo and Paul, preceded him in death.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 28.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Benedictine Health and Welfare Fund at Saint Vincent Archabbey.