BERGAN, Steven Joseph 1971-1989

OBRIEN, BERGAN, REIMER, BJERKE

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/12/2012 at 13:11:59

Steven Joseph Bergan

The Mass of Resurrection was held for Steven Joseph Bergan, 17, at the Central Community School gymnasium Thursday, Aug. 24, 1989, with burial in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Elkader, Iowa. Father Thomas Rhomberg was the principle celebrant. Father John Moser, Father Larry Duenas, Father Jim Bergin SVD, Father Paul Peters, Msgr. Francis Friedl and Msgr. William Blessington con-celebrated. Pallbearers were Mark Kainz, Dennis Christeleit, Karl Tschirgi, Eldon Walz, Ernest Briggs Sr., and Jon Elvers. honorary bearers were Francis DeShaw, Don Hakert, Steve Easton, Wayne White and Delbert Andrews.

Steven Joseph Bergan was born at Elkader, Iowa, Aug. 30, 1971, the 6th child of Bernard and Maureen (O'Brien) Bergan. He died in a one-vehicle accident near Elkader, Aug. 20, 1989. He was baptized, made his First Communion and was confirmed at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Elkader, where he was a lifetime member. He was active in CCD and was an altar boy. He resided all of his life on the family farm in Cox Creek Township, rural Elkader, was active in the family farming operation and on occasion worked for other farmers in the area.

His entire formal education was received at Central Community School at Elkader where he was about to begin his senior year. He excelled academically and had participated in several talented and gifted programs at Central. In July he had attended the 1989 Engineering Honors Workshop at Iowa State University. He is to be featured in Who's Who Among American High School Students 1988-89. He was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council and was a Peer Helper. He also enjoyed all sports, hunting and music.

Survivors include his parents Bernard and Maureen Bergan; 3 sisters and 4 brothers, Jeanice and her husband James Reimer of Elkader, Sheila of Ankeny, Kevin and his wife Amy of Elkader, Patrick and his wife Charlene of Garner, Terry of Elkader and Erin and Ryan both living at home; 3 nieces, Andrea, Sara and Ashley Reimer, one nephew, Derek Bergan, all of Elkader; grandparents, John and Kathryn O'Brien of Strawberry Point and William and Nelly Bjerke of Elkader.

Preceding him death was his grandfather, Thomas J. Bergan.

Newspaper of the time, possibly the Monona Billboard, clipping, from Dorothy Schave's obituary collection.

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Added by Henry Brainard 11/07/2022 (no source given):

3 die in early morning accident

Three local young men died early Sunday morning in a one-vehicle accident just south of Elkader city limits on Highway 56. Dead at the scene of the accident were Brian Kenney, 18; Steven Bergan, 17; and Steven Orr, 18.

The accident occured at approximately 2:55 a.m. this past Sunday

According to the Clayton County Sheriff's Department, the southbound vehicle containing the three teen-agers failed to negotiate a sharp curve on Highway 56 leaving he roadway and hitting the concrete box culvert near the intersection of Highway 13 and 56.

Bergan, according to the sheriff's depatment spokesman, was killed after being thrown from the vehicle as it struck a concrete wall of the culvert.

"The other two victims were pinned inside the vehicle and were consummed when the vehicle caught fire and burned," stated a prepared news release from the sheriff's department.

"The vehicle left the road on a curve, traveled down the right shoulder for 261 feet,' said the sheriff's department release.

"The vehicle hit a box culvert causing it to roll onto it's side and become airbourne. The vehicle then slammed into a concrete wall and fell to the bottom of the culvert onto it's wheels" according to the sheriff's report.

The accident is still being investigated at press time, Clayton County Sheriff's Department officials had not yet identified the driver of the accident vehicle.

Steven Orr and Brian Kenney graduated in May from Central High School in Elkader and Steven Bergan would have been a senior this year at Central High School.

Parents of the victims are Linda and John Orr of rural Elkader, Maureen and Bernard Bergan of rural Elkader, and Agnes and Tom Kenney of rural Elkader.

As of deadline time, funeral services are still pending.

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The Mass of Resurrection was held for Steven Joseph Bergan, 17, at the Cental Community School gymnasium Thursday, Aug, 24, 1989, with burial in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Elkader, Iowa. Father Thomas Rhomberg was the principle celebrant. Father John Moser, Father Larry Duenas, Father Jim Bergan SVD, Father Paul Peters, Magr. Francis Friedl and Msgr. William Blessington Con-celebrated. Pallbearers were Mark Kainz, Dennis Christeleit, Karl Tschirgi, Eldon Walz, Ernest Briggs Sr., and Jon Elvers. Honorary bearers were Francis DeShaw, Don Hakert, Steve Easton, Wayne White, and Delbert Andrews.

Steven Joseph Bergan was born in Elkader, Iowa, Aug. 30, 1971, the 6th child of Bernard and Maureen (O'Brien) Bergan. He died in a one-vehicle accident near Elkader, Aug. 20, 1989. He was baptized, made his First Communion and was confirmed at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Elkader, where he was a lifetime member. He was active in CCD and was an altar boy. He resided all his life on the family farm in Cox Creek Township, rural Elkader, was active in the family farming operation and on occainsion worked for other farmers in the area.

His entire formal education was received at Central Community School at Elkader where he was about to begin his senior year. He excelled academically and had participated in ceveral talented and gifted programs at Central. In July he had attended the 1989 Engineering Honors Workshop at Iowa State University. He is to be featured in Who's Who Among American High School Students 1988-89. He was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council and was a Peer Helper. He enjoyed all sports, hunting, and music