BERGAN, Larry J. 1942-2008

BERGAN, BEHM, FISHER

Posted By: K. Kittleson
Date: 10/30/2008 at 18:39:04

MASON CITY - Larry J. Bergan, 66, of 1719 Springview Drive, Mason City, died Tuesday (Oct. 28, 2008) at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St.N.E. in Mason City, with Father Kenneth Gehling officiating. Casual dress is suggested and blue jeans are encouraged.

Visitation will be held one hour before the service and also Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the chapel. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery with full military honors conducted by members of the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association.

Larry Joseph Bergan was born Oct. 16, 1942, in Mason City, the son of Lloyd and Lila (Behm) Bergan. He graduated in 1961 from Mason City High School. He was a member of the Naval Reserve and served his active duty right after high school. Later, he joined the Iowa National Guard where he served for several years.

Larry married Suzanne (Sue Fisher) Bergan on July 24, 1965. They lived for several years in the highlands area of Mason City. Then in 1978 Larry fulfilled a dream by moving his family to an acreage south of Fertile. After living there for about 10 years, Sue finally talked him into moving back to their current home.

He worked at Marshall & Swift, Deckers and Lehigh Cement, retiring from Lehigh after 26 years in 2003 for health reasons.

Larry loved the land and his family and enjoyed taking great care of both. He spent much time on his beautiful yard and gardens. He enjoyed wandering through antique stores and going to auctions where the frugal Norwegian would actually part with his hard-earned cash. He enjoyed wheeling and dealing and the thrill of a good buy. Though, if he truly wanted a particular item (piano rolls), he just upped the bid rather than waste time dickering because he "needed" that (end of story). What a contradiction he could be! He was quite an avid Jewel Tea collector.

Larry occasionally spoiled his wife with jewelry, but recently learned to visit pawn shops after his sisters-in-law took Sue on an "adventure" and returned adorned with their treasured and reasonably purchased sparklies. He decided after much skepticism that maybe they were on to something there.

Larry and Sue were limited in retirement travels, as Larry had been on dialysis every other day for about 3 years. They had however become members of the "Senior" Breakfast Club at LD's Filling Station (620 12th St. N.E.) so that is where fittingly the after service gathering will be held. Please feel free to stop by after 2:30 p.m. if you are unable to attend the service.

Dialysis requires limited fluid intake, so please raise a Pepsi, or a cup of coffee, as Larry is upstairs now, drinkin' one or the other. He's there, smilin' and toastin' right back at ya, havin' a second one just cuz he can!!!

Those happy to have shared and known Larry are his wife of 43 years, Sue; one son, Larry Jr. and wife, (daughter-by-marriage) Becky, and their three sons, Alex, Jake and Sam of Hanlontown; granddaughter, Jessica Bachman of Fletcher, N.C.; sisters-in-law, Jan Bergan and Vicki Fisher of Mason City, Pam Fisher of Maplewood, Minn.; bothers-in-law, Steve Fisher and wife, Nancy, of Hanlontown, Jim Fisher and wife, Marcia, of Davenport, Dennis Haaland of Mason City and David Skellenger of Garner; many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Glen Lloyd, Richard and James; and parents-in-law, Charles and Lulu Fisher.

Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City.