Alvin Bergerson

Alvin L. Bergerson, 96, of Chippewa Falls, died peacefully on Sunday, May 8, 2022, at the Marshfield Medical Center in Eau Claire.

Alvin was born to Anton and Loretta (Frederick) Bergerson on January 30, 1926, in Chippewa Falls. He married Joan Ouimet on June 26, 1947. They resided in Chippewa Falls and celebrated 70 years together before his wife, Joan passed away.

Alvin served his country during WWII with the U.S. Navy until his Honorable discharge in 1946, with the rank of Carpenter's Mate third class. Alvin served on the destroyer escorts USS Reeves (DE156) and USS Gunason (DLE795). Their assignments were primarily escorting convoys across the Atlantic. When the Gunason was assigned duty in the Pacific arena she continued doing what she was designed to do, escort. There were the occasional diversion from these escorts such as mail runs, submarine hunting and a search for a downed plane. He received medals for service in the American area, the European African Middle Eastern area, the Asiatic Pacific area as well as the Philippine Liberation, and the Victory medal (WWII).  He was honored at the Highgrounds in 2019.  After leaving the service, he worked at paper mills in Cornell, WI and Clarkston, WA. He finished up his career when he retired from trucking at Glendenning Motorways at the age of 57.

An ability that he was particularly proud of was carpentry. He built their first home in Cornell and then another in Chippewa Falls. At his last home, near Lake Wissota, he made numerous major improvements. One of his pastimes was to make different wood items for inside and outside of the home like bunny tables and chairs for his grandchildren, wooden benches, potato boxes, wooden frames for mirrors, and cute lawn ornaments. When they spent the summers at the campground in Chetek, Alvin made porch attachments to neighbors' mobile homes. He had a love for projects but made sure that once a project was started, it was completed quickly. In the later part of his life, his routine was to go out to the workshop in the morning, start a fire in the wood stove, come back in to get his coffee and then going back to the workshop to make plans for the day.

Though he loved his homes, he enjoyed getting away too. With his young children, they would head to Holcombe with a tent. When all of the children were gone, Joan and he would spend summers at Lake Chetek until they discovered winters down south. After trying Florida, they settled on taking their 5th wheel to Donna, Texas for many winters until Joan's health prevented them from venturing out anymore.

For many years, Alvin and Joan would go to Turtle Lake Casino to test their luck. Their adult children remember going with them and particularly enjoying the drive up and back with lots of reminiscing and laughter. When fall came around he would enjoy watching the Green Bay Packers play but didn't mind watching other teams too. He loved going out to his workshop were his stationary bike was and pedal away to keep in shape. If the opportunity came up, he would enjoy going fishing. His best companion was his dog Precious who he missed greatly by his passing.

Alvin is survived by his five children, Sharon Dupey of Wausau, Linda (Marty) Rood of Arizona, Dennis (Sue) Bergerson of Jim Falls, Pam (Steve) Bruley of Eau Claire, and Sheryl Bergerson of Eau Claire; grandchildren, Mike Wiltrout, Brenda (Kevin) Weltzin, Matt (Julie) Wiltrout, Ryan Bruley, Olivia Wiltrout, and Danielle (Matthew) Bogenschutz, 12 great- grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Joan in 2017; siblings, Edwin Bergerson, Clifford Bergerson, Lorraine Padhola, and Lorretta Patrow.

The memorial service, led by the family, will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 20th, 2022, at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls with a visitation one hour prior to the service at the chapel. The interment will follow at Prairie View Cemetery, Village of Lake Hallie, with Military Honors conducted by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Chippewa Falls VFW #1038 or to the Chippewa Falls American Legion Post #77.