Rich Bernhardt, Evergreen Engineering Co-Founder, Loses Cancer Battle  

The co-founder of Evergreen Engineering, Richard Paul Bernhardt, died January 19 after a courageous four-and-a-half-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

Bernhardt was born on February 15, 1950, in North Bend, Ore., graduated from Klamath Union High School and went on to attend Oregon Technical Institute, where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He spent most of his professional life at Evergreen Engineering, a business he proudly co-founded with two partners and served as CEO. His work ethic, integrity, and dedication to excellence were evident in everything he did.

Evergreen Engineering, Inc. was incorporated in 1985 with headquarters in Eugene, Ore., originally serving mainly the forest products industries (wood products and pulp & paper) in the Pacific Northwest.

In 1972, Bernhardt married Donna Jean (Lewis) Bernhardt, his high school sweetheart and they shared 54 years of marriage and raised three daughters.

An avid golfer, Bernhardt’s passion for the game started when he played on his college team. He later became a member at Shadow Hills Country Club in 1998 where he served on the board three times, and was instrumental to the design of the clubhouse, and the Member-Guest Tournament.