Bernshausen Finds Second Family at YMCA

By Justin Bernshausen

Maintenance Director, Holdrege

Hello! My name is Justin Bernshausen, and I live in Minden.

I was born and raised in Westminster, Colo., which is a suburb northwest of Denver. I grew up in a very tight-knit family. Some of my fondest memories growing up were Sunday dinners with my cousins, aunts and uncles at my grandparents’ house.

I was an active child. I played baseball for two years, played football from 3rd grade until 11th grade and wrestled from Kindergarten to 12th grade. I believe all the sports I played growing up shaped me into the man I am today.

In 2013, I decided to pack up with my six children Kodi, JJ, Cassie, Alyssa, Emma and Miley, with one on the way (Spencer, who was born here), and make the move to the small town of Minden, where my great-grandmother had lived her whole life.

In 2019, I was working for Dish Network installing satellites. I was working long hours and missed many of my kids’ functions. I knew there had to be something out there that would work with my kids’ crazy hectic schedules as they were getting older and starting to participate in football, softball and wrestling. Being a single parent, I feel it is important to be at their activities.

I saw a post online about the YMCA in Holdrege looking for a Maintenance Director. I had done maintenance for a variety of hotels for over 10 years in Colorado. I didn’t know much about the YMCA. My only experience with the Y was as a child knowing a great man, Cliff Haynes, who was a sports director/ wrestling coach who always talked about helping youth through the YMCA.

I did a little more research on the YMCA in Holdrege and everything that it did for the youth and community and decided to apply for it. After the interview process and with a little hope and praying, I was hired in the summer of 2019.

Now that I have worked at the Y for three and half years, I can honestly say it was the best decision I have ever made. When I wake up each day, I don’t feel like I’m just coming to a job. I’m coming to a second family where everyone truly cares about everyone.

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