Bernard A. Cotter

Bernard (Bernie) A. Cotter passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, April 1 ^st , 2023. He was a thoughtful and loving husband and father who worked hard to provide for his family.

Bernie was born on July 19, 1957 and was raised in Tinley Park, IL and Country Club Hills, IL and was a longtime resident of Homewood, IL. He attended Trinity Lutheran School, Tinley Park High School and Hillcrest High School.  He served in the Navy and after receiving an Honorable Discharge he was a Milkman when he met and married his wife Christine and they had their daughter Shannon Rose. He was a proud UAW Ford member and was employed at the Ford Assembly Plant in Chicago, IL for 28 years.

Bernie was an avid reader of mystery and detective novels.  His favorite things to do were cook, grill, spend time with his family and friends, chat with his neighbors and hang out around the fire pit in the backyard listening to music, the White Sox or the Bears games.  He was well known for his "Almost Famous Chili" and his slow and low BBQ ribs.  He enjoyed cooking for all and sharing his tips on how to cook as well as what was on sale at the local grocery stores.  He also enjoyed bowling for many years at the bowling alleys in Tinley Park and Country Club Hills along with passionately watching the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bears.

He is survived by his wife Christine Van Etten-Cotter and their daughter Shannon Rose, his brother Mark (Elizabeth) Cotter, sister Monica (John)Stopka, sister Christine Weiss, mother-in-law Carol Van Etten, in-laws Cathy Hofsteadter, and Norb and Flo Ziemer. He was a fun-loving uncle to his nieces and nephews; Mark, Danny, Charley, Katie, Gerry, Aidan, and Elena.

He was preceded in death by his parents Bernard T. and Hannelore Cotter, his brother Michael, father-in-law Gerald Van Etten, brother-in-law Mark Van Etten, and nephews Giancarlo Van Etten and Kevin Hofsteadter.