Bernard "Bernie" John Jeltema

Celebration of Life - January 27, 2026 - Livestreaming at https://Saddleback-Chapel.livecontrol.tv/028bfa7d 

9:30 AM Service at Saddleback Chapel, 220 E Main St, Tustin, CA 92780. Doors open at 9:00 AM and light refreshments will be available.

11:00 AM Reception at Tustin Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall, 225 W Main St, Tustin, CA 92780

1:30 PM Burial at El Toro Memorial Park, 25751 Trabuco Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630. Enter the front gate and make your first left.

In lieu of flowers or memorial tree, Bernie requests donations be made on his behalf to House of Ruth at https://secure.familypromiseorangecounty.org/campaigns/hope-has-a-home-honoring-bernie-jeltema.

Bernard “Bernie” Jeltema was a beloved husband, dad, grandfather, and great grandfather. Born September 17, 1935, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to John and Frederike Johanna Jeltema. Died January 13, 2026, in Orange, California at 90 years old. He was the youngest with two older sisters, Evelyn (born 1921) and Dorothy (born 1924).

Survived by: Sally Ann Jeltema (wife, maiden name Enking), Sharon Sue Jeltema (daughter), Mary Anne Oakland (daughter), John Clarke Jeltema (son); Donna, Michael, Sophie, Audrey, Garrett & Ryan (grandchildren), and James (great-grandson).

Bernie was a kind soul, welcoming, gentle with a good sense of humor, humble, genuinely interested in others, generous, patient, supportive, very loving and caring. Hobbies included: parenting, gardening, home repair, listening to music (especially jazz, blues, soul, classic rock, classical, opera and more), watching baseball and football (especially the Wolverines), cooking, photography, hiking, traveling, adventuring, bird watching, all of nature, and woodworking.

Raised Dutch Reform, he became Presbyterian in his early 20s and continued his spiritual journey throughout his life. He never stopped reading, discovering, discussing, debating and opening his mind to new ideas. He was a member, Deacon, leader and advisor at Tustin Presbyterian Church for over 40 years.

Bernie attended Calvin College before transferring to University of Michigan where he graduated with a B.S. in Physics. A semester shy of completing a Master’s degree in Physics at UofM, he was recruited by IBM where he worked from September 1958 to December 1989.

Bernie was promoted and moved frequently within IBM until an IBM-MCA partnership, DiscoVision, brought him and family to Tustin, CA where he has resided since 1980. His crowning IBM Achievement was as the co-creator of BS/PSA, IBM’s first Data Warehouse Methodology.

Bernie created Strategic Frameworks, Inc. (SFI) in 1989 supported by Sally to specialize in long range planning and data warehouse consulting. Bernie created a Data Warehouse Certification program at University of California, Irvine Extension which he taught for over 15 years. He retired and closed SFI in December 2018.

Bernie’s crowning philanthropic achievement was envisioning and spearheading the House of Ruth which, in close conjunction with Family Promise of Orange County, started helping homeless families in 2023. Due to his significant efforts, FPOC created and continues to give a Visionary Award in Bernie’s name.

Flowers: Delivered no later than January 26 to Saddleback Chapel, 220 E Main St, Tustin, CA 92780.