Obit: Bergemann, John R. (1922 - 2006)

Contact:  Carol (Purkis) Mitte
Email: mcmitte@tds.net

Surnames:Bergemann-Breitenbach-Georgas-Short-Pike-Wilcox-Davis-Pace-Resong-Rembs-Cole- Gesche

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, WI) Pg.10, 5-3-2006

Bergemann, John R. (9 May 1922 - 30 April 2006)

John R. Bergemann, age 83,of 217 Sunset Place, Neillsville , passed away at his home on April 30,2006 at 10:40 a.m. with his family by his side. For the past nine and half years he was being treated for "Multi Myeloma" a form of bone marrow cancer.

John Ronald Bergemann was born May 9, 1922 to Gustave and Otillia (Breitenbach) Bergemann in Granton. He attended Granton Schools graduating from High School in 1940. He worked for his parents on their farm in the Town of York until September, 1943 when he enlisted in the US Navy. He became a Pharmacist Mate and served in the Invasion of France on "D" Day. In the fall of 1944 he came back to the States and served at the Naval Hospital in Little Creek, VA waiting to be drafted in the Fleet Marines to serve as a Hospital Corpsman in the South Pacific. The war ended in August, He was discharged Dec 21, 1945.In January of 1946 he started his apprenticeship to become a funeral director at Rembs Funeral Home in Marshfield. He attended the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science in Milwaukee. He came back to Rembs and worked there until he purchased the Cole Funeral Home in Neillsville in May of 1949.

He was active in many community affairs, a life member of the VFW and the American Legion, and a member of the first hospital board when the new Hospital was built in 1954. He is the last living member of the original hospital board. In 1963 he sold the funeral home to Elmer Georgas and became the hospital administrator of Neillsville Memorial Hospital. Many building projects were carried out under his term. He retired in 1984. He was active after his retirement in many things, He enjoyed flowers, gardening and spending time with his friends at Gross Motors. He was an honorary member of the knights of Colunbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters; he was also a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Neillsville, Wis.

John is survived by his wife, Martha; two sons, John A. (Charlotte) Bergemann, of Waxahachie, TX; Thomas (Laura) Bergemann, of Park Falls, WI; two daughters, Jean(Keith Short), of Wautoma; and Eileen(John) Pike Bergemann, of Lakewood, CO; also a "special" daughter, Sue Bergemann, of Neillsville, Wis. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Dessa and Luke Bergemann, Jennifer, Sarah and Nicole Bergemann. Janelle Pike and Eben Short and Anna (Shawn)Wilcox; four great-grandsons, Bastin, Xavier, Nathaniel and Trevor. He is also survived by one sister, Eileen (Edward) Davis, of Ocala, FL; and two brothers, Harland Bergemann, of Wisconsin Rapids; and Grant Bergemann, of Tucson AZ.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Marlowe, Harold and Erlin.

A memorial service for John will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 3,at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Neillsville, Wis. The very Reverend Woodrow H. Pace will officiate. Providing music will be Ronald Resong, organist and St. Mary's choir. Internment will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation time will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday morning at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Urn bearer will be Luke Bergemann.

Honorary bearers will be his loving grandchildren.

The Gesche Funeral Home of Neillsville is assisting the family with arrangements.