Russel E. Bergerson / July 21, 1918-Dec. 6, 2008

Published 7:19 am Thursday, December 11, 2008

By Staff
Russel E. Bergerson, 90, of Edwardsburg,, died on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, at 9:40 a.m.. in Silverbrook Manor in Niles, after an extended illness.
A funeral services was held on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. in the Connelly Funeral Home, Cassopolis. The Rev. David Waid, pastor of Daily Church, Cassopolis, officiated.
Interment was in the Dailey Cemetery.
The family received friends on Tuesday evening in the funeral home.
He was born on July 21, 1918, in Bristol, Ind., to the late Bernard and Elvina (Olson) Bergerson and lived most of his life in the Michiana area.
He first married Evelyn J. Wenker on May 16, 1942, in Bryan, Ohio. She died on Jan. 16, 1970.
He then married Bonnie McIntyre in December 1985. She died on Feb. 6, 2008.
He is survived by two sons, James R. (Jacki) Bergerson of Niles and Jerold E. Bergerson of Elkhart, Ind.; four step-children, David Hoodrich of South Bend, Cynthia Lafayette of Indianapolis, Ind., Betty (Thomas) McKinney of South Bend, Ind. and Martha Short of Kansas; three grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren and a sister, Polly Yams of Florida.
Bergenson retired in 1972 as a machinist with Bendix Corporation in South Bend, Ind.
He was a former Boy Scout leader with Troop No. 37 in Cassopolis and was a member of the St. Joseph Valley Old Engine Club. He loved fishing and camping.
Memorials may be made to the Michigan Parkinson Foundation, 30400 Telegraph Road, Suite 150, Bingham, MI 48025.
Arrangements were by Connelly Funeral Home, Cassopolis.