BERTCH, John Everett 1909-2006

BERTCH, SIPPEL, SMITH, BALSLEY

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 9/29/2014 at 23:38:16

[Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Sunday, January 8, 2006]

WATERLOO - John Everett Bertch, 96, of Redmond, Wash., formerly of Waterloo, died Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006.

He was born Oct. 9, 1909, in Waterloo, son of John P. and Dollie Sippel Bertch. He married Ramona Smith Aug. 26, 1934. She died in 1995.

Mr. Bertch financed his way through the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, by teaching swimming and life saving at the YMCA. He earned a bachelor of science degree with a teaching certificate and masters in business management. After graduation he continued his career with the YMCA, serving as an executive in the association of Waterloo, Peoria, Ill., Chicago and Green Bay, Wis., prior to entering the U.S. Navy during World War II. As a naval lieutenant and combat intelligence officer, he served aboard the USS Guam and USS Alaska in the battles of Okinawa, Leyte, Iwo Jima, Japan and South China Seas. Following the war, he served the YMCAs in Oakland, Berkeley and Anaheim, Calif. In 1958 he joined the Regional YMCA staff in Seattle, serving all the associations throughout the Pacific northwest states.

Along with 45 years of YMCA dedication, he also was administrator and manager for five years of the Horizon House (retirement and nursing home complex) in Seattle.

Survivors include a daughter, Diana Balsley of Issaquah, Wash.; and nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services: 2 p.m. Wednesday at Emerald Heights Retirement Home, 10901 176th Circle NE, Redmond, WA 90052. Sunset Hills Funeral Home & Memorial Park, Bellevue, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to Emerald Heights Retirement Home.

Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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