Troy Bernhard, age 49, died September 27, 2024, at Mercy Hospital in Perrysburg.

He has truly won the battle because he now has seen the face of God. Faced with his own mortality by his bladder cancer diagnosis, Troy lived life for others, especially for and with his beautiful family.

Troy was born January 2, 1975, in Monclova. He was a 1993 Anthony Wayne High School graduate. Troy always had an intense desire to help others and he started as a firefighter for Monclova Township Fire Department in1991. Right after high school, Troy and his friend, Miguel, worked the entire summer for the Cedar Point Fire Department. After working at Cedar Point for the summer of 1995, Troy continued his work at Monclova Fire.

He then began working for the Waterville Fire Department, before being hired full-time in 1996 with Perrysburg Township Fire Department. Throughout his career, Troy was hired to recertify Davis Besse’s fire brigade, which he loved to do every year. He also enjoyed his time working as a paramedic in both the Wood County Hospital ER then in the ER at Mercy Hospital in Perrysburg.

Troy met his soulmate and equal, Rachel Rinkowski, in 1997, when they were both working for Perrysburg Township. They began dating in 2003 and married at St. Hedwig Church in 2006. Together, the fire department and the police department were one unified force at their house. Their loving partnership created a beautiful family, which consisted of daughter, Sammi, and son, Joe. These four musketeers traveled, laughed, played sports, lived life to the fullest and made countless memories throughout the years.

Troy relished in making his children a focal point of their marriage. He made birthday cakes every year for them—each unique and special. Troy also loved cooking. He was the renowned chef of the neighborhood, family events and the fire department. Even when his cancer stopped him from eating, still, Troy persisted cooking and feeding the multitudes of people that he loved. He thrived in the joy of entertaining— the perfect host. In 2021, during a routine physical, tragically he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Throughout this long and arduous cancer journey— there have been several highs and many lows as Troy attempted to remain cancer free and fight this enemy. Talented doctors, regimes, pharmaceutical cocktails and countless prayers, and especially his loving family and friends made certain that this amazing man was never alone on this journey. Many people would have given up; however, Troy never ever surrendered.

Troy is survived by his adoring wife, Rachel; his two young children—daughter, Samantha, and son, Joseph; father, Larry Bernhard; mother, Cheryl Deitrich; siblings, Kevin (Sheila) Bernhard Sr., Brent Bernhard, Tiffany (Kyle) Lowe; mother-in-law, Elaine Rinkowski, and brother-in-law, Matthew (Jean) Rinkowski. He also is survived by nephews, Kevin II, Todd (Ashley), Zachary (Rayeann), Jacob, Jackson, Noah and Benjamin; nieces, Sadie and Sophie, and great-niece, Adeline.

He was preceded in death by brother, Todd; father-inlaw, Walter Deitrich; motherin- law, Barbara Bernhard; father-in-law, John Rinkowski, and grandparents, Elmer and Pauline Bernhard, and Dale and Jean Sutton.

Visitation will be held at the Monclova Road Baptist Church on Friday, October 4, from 2 to 8 p.m. A firefighter bell service will start at 7 p.m. A full firefighter’s funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 5, at 10:30 a.m., at the Monclova Road Baptist Church. A funeral procession to the Roth Cemetery will follow. Arrangements by Walter Funeral Home, 4653 Glendale Avenue, Toledo.

The family requests that any contributions in Troy’s name be to Tunnels to Towers Foundation.