Bernard G. Hay

Bernard G. Hay, 85, of Olin, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at his home in Olin. Following his wishes, a cremation has taken place, and a private family gathering will be held at a later date. Dawson Funeral Services in Olin is supporting his family during this time.

Born on July 8, 1939, to Kenneth and Marguerite (Moreland) Hay, Bernard was a graduate of the Olin High School Class of 1956. On September 5, 1958, he married Caryl Fay Taylor at the Olin United Methodist Church, and they resided at the family farm for 63 years until they had to move to town for health reasons.

Bernard was a hard-working dairy farmer for over 50 years milking 102 holsteins and jerseys at his peak.  When his health forced him to retire from milking in 2011, he bought a flock of sheep to keep himself busy.  In his youth, Bernard loved to show his cattle and sheep at the Jones County, All-Iowa and Iowa State Fairs.  He passed that love for showing on to his children and grandchildren and loved to be on the sidelines critiquing the competition.  In 1961, Bernard won the National Corn Picking contest in Worthington, MN with his McCormick No. 101 picker-combine. He purchased it for $8,000 to do custom work.

Bernard will best be remembered for his basketball and baseball skills.  He led the Olin Lions throughout high school scoring 663 points his senior year and amassing over 1,600 points in his four years. In jibing Glenn, he would jokingly say his talent skipped a generation in reference to his grandsons. 

Bernard was incredibly proud of all his grandchildren and their accomplishments. He and Caryl never missed a game or event except for a football game in 2010. He was released from the hospital on that Friday evening and insisted on driving by the North Cedar football field on the way home to stop and listen to the announcers. When the grandchildren were in kid league basketball, the locals knew to stay off Hwy 38 between Stanwood and Olin on Saturday mornings as he and Caryl would be speeding back and forth to catch everyone’s games.

Bernard is survived by his wife, Caryl; two children, Cindy Meyer of Stanwood and Glenn (Lisa) Hay of Lowden; and five grandchildren: Alyssa (Mike) Ploeger with their children Lucas and Ryan, Jordan (Kara) Hay who are expecting a little one soon, Krista Meyer, Jacob (Madeline) Hay who are also expecting, and Emily Hay. He is also remembered by his brother, Curtis (Mary) Wigger of Nashville, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Marilyn Hansen.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Olin Hose Company or Friends of Olin Emergency Services. Online condolences can be shared at www.dawsonfuneral.com, and cards can be sent to Dawson Funeral Services, Attn: Bernard Hay Family, PO Box 258, Wyoming, Iowa 52362.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.