Bernie the Butcher dies

"Bernie the Butcher" Koen has died at the age of 70

"Bernie moved to the Central Coast in 1984 after spending two years with the Australian Meat Board in Tehran and 10 years in Lae, Papua New Guinea, teaching his butchering skills to the locals in both countries," according to his wife of 42 years, Mrs Mary Koen.

"He brought our young family to the Peninsula when purchasing his first business in West St, Umina, where 'Bernie's Family Butchery' was born," she said.

She said Bernie would be remembered and loved by the community for his warm and fun loving personality, his ability to crack the right joke at the right moment, and his catchphrase: Pleased to meet you with meat to please you.

"Bernie advertised himself as the Sausage King, proud of all the new flavours he created, unheard of in those days.

"Many locals still remember the free slice of Devon or cocktail frankfurt Bernie would offer when they were shopping with their mum," Mrs Koen said.

Over the years, Bernie's Family Butchery sponsored many charitable organisations, local school and sporting teams, through cash donations and by supplying meat trays for their many raffles.

After 10 years in the butcher's shop, the Koen's bought into a home-based, spit roast mobile catering franchise which they operated for six years.

"This new enterprise expanded Bernie's love of life and service to most of the Central Coast," Mrs Koen said.

"So many will remember and think, 'Bernie did my party'," she said.

The Koen's continued to grow in their catering career, opening their own company, Camelot Catering, which continued to service families, businesses, and private events across the Central Coast and beyond for over 10 more years.

In 2004, aged 59, Mr Koen began looking for a retirement job, and according to Mrs Koen, that's when Bernie the Butcher's life took an unexpected, but welcome change.

Mr Koen applied to be the bus driver for the then brand new Hammond Care Facility in Woy Woy, but Mrs Koen said Bernie's magnetic personality won the Hammond Care staff over.

"After his interview for the bus driver position, he was contacted and encouraged to be trained as a Special Dementia Carer," Mrs Koen said.

"They saw his potential, and Bernie soon qualified as a Cert III Nurse in Dementia and Aged Care.

"He loved his job.

"He was the longest serving staff member at Hammond Care, Woy Woy and his aim was always to just keep his residents happy in the moment.

"He loved it so much he kept postponing his retirement," Mrs Koen said.

Mr Koen passed away peacefully in his sleep aged 70 on March 29.

He is survived by his five children, Sarah, Rachel, Damien, Teresa and Gerard, his 10 grandchildren and his wife Mary.

Donations can be made in memory of Bernie Koen at Alzheimer's Australia's website www.fightdementia.org.au with the description: Celebrating Bernie.

Email, 3 May 2016

Mary Koen, Woy Woy

Reporter, Dilon Luke