Harold Ray Bergman
Harold Ray Bergman died on Sept. 3, 2023, at Edencrest of Green Meadows in Johnston. His funeral was Saturday, Sept. 9, at The Bridge in Johnston. Interment was Monday, Sept. 11, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Parkersburg.
Harold was born on Sept. 25, 1924, on a farm home near Stout. He graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1942. He was deferred during World War II to farm with his father and three uncles and was eventually drafted in 1945. As an occupation troop in the Army Ordnance Corps, he reached the rank of staff sergeant, serving a total of two years in France, Germany and Austria. In 2009, he was on an Honor Flight with fellow veterans to Washington, D.C.
In 1946, he resumed his education at the University of Iowa and finished in August of 1950 with a degree in mathematics and a teaching certification. On Aug. 21, 1950, he married Frances Jean Kalkwarf, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Mulder) Kalkwarf, in Parkersburg. He taught for a brief time then became a field manager for the Iowa Farm Bureau, for which he worked for 37.5 years in numerous locations. He retired in 1989, and the couple moved to Des Moines.
An avid cyclist throughout his life, he competed in the Senior Games Time Trial in 2004. He was a member of Reformed Churches of America, served as an elder, was on several committees and sang in the church choir. He was also a member of the American Legion and the Audubon Lions Club. During his retirement years, he was a volunteer tutor and a member and president of the Golden K. Kiwanis Chapter in 2000-2001.
He and Frances were the parents of three sons: Michael and Ellen (Brandt) Bergman, Timothy and Kenna (Taylor) Bergman and Philip and Donna (Der) Bergman. He has four grandsons: Alex and Brandt (Michelle Kuei) and Brett and Kenny. Harold also claims foreign exchange students Bassam Mourad of Brazil and Anne (Moitry) Vacant of France as their American Field Service children. Harold is survived by siblings Marlyn, Mid, Mary Ann (Larry) Jansen, and Jim (Jan). He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances; a sister who died in infancy; brother, Bob; brothers-in-law John Bode, John DeGroot, Johnny Kalkwarf and Harold Kalkwarf; and sisters-in-law Bonnie Bergman, Eunice Kalkwarf and Dorothy Kalkwarf.
Harold was born on Sept. 25, 1924, on a farm home near Stout. He graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1942. He was deferred during World War II to farm with his father and three uncles and was eventually drafted in 1945. As an occupation troop in the Army Ordnance Corps, he reached the rank of staff sergeant, serving a total of two years in France, Germany and Austria. In 2009, he was on an Honor Flight with fellow veterans to Washington, D.C.
In 1946, he resumed his education at the University of Iowa and finished in August of 1950 with a degree in mathematics and a teaching certification. On Aug. 21, 1950, he married Frances Jean Kalkwarf, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Mulder) Kalkwarf, in Parkersburg. He taught for a brief time then became a field manager for the Iowa Farm Bureau, for which he worked for 37.5 years in numerous locations. He retired in 1989, and the couple moved to Des Moines.
An avid cyclist throughout his life, he competed in the Senior Games Time Trial in 2004. He was a member of Reformed Churches of America, served as an elder, was on several committees and sang in the church choir. He was also a member of the American Legion and the Audubon Lions Club. During his retirement years, he was a volunteer tutor and a member and president of the Golden K. Kiwanis Chapter in 2000-2001.
He and Frances were the parents of three sons: Michael and Ellen (Brandt) Bergman, Timothy and Kenna (Taylor) Bergman and Philip and Donna (Der) Bergman. He has four grandsons: Alex and Brandt (Michelle Kuei) and Brett and Kenny. Harold also claims foreign exchange students Bassam Mourad of Brazil and Anne (Moitry) Vacant of France as their American Field Service children. Harold is survived by siblings Marlyn, Mid, Mary Ann (Larry) Jansen, and Jim (Jan). He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances; a sister who died in infancy; brother, Bob; brothers-in-law John Bode, John DeGroot, Johnny Kalkwarf and Harold Kalkwarf; and sisters-in-law Bonnie Bergman, Eunice Kalkwarf and Dorothy Kalkwarf.