Joseph Merrill "Bert" Bertrand 1933 - 2017

DUFAULT, BERTRAND, STIDFOLE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/17/2017 at 01:35:19

Sioux City Journal
16 March 2017

PONCA, Neb. | Joseph Merrill "Bert" Bertrand, 83, of Ponca, formerly of South Sioux City, died peacefully, in the loving arms of his daughter, on Monday, March 13, 2017, at Elms Heath Care Center in Ponca.

Visitation will be 8 to 11 a.m. Friday, with the family present at 9 a.m., at Mohr Funeral Home in South Sioux City. Graveside services will be noon Friday in Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, Salix, Iowa. A fellowship luncheon will follow the graveside services at the funeral home.

Merrill was born on Nov. 29, 1933, in Salix, the son of Alfred L. and Bernadette L. (DuFault) Bertrand. He married Josephine B. Stidfole in June 1955. She died on June 5, 1994, in Sioux City.

When he was young, he served as an altar boy at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in Salix. He was also a baseball umpire for the Boy's Catholic League. He served two years in the U.S. Army from May 20, 1953, to May 20, 1955. He served as an antiaircraft artillery automatic weapons chief during the Korean War, and was honorably discharged as a private first class (T).

After his military service, he worked for several years for the Sioux City Stockyards and for Audino Construction as a brick layer and heavy equipment operator. In his later years, he was fondly known as "Bert, the lawnmower man" in South Sioux City.

He enjoyed spending time with his grand, great-grand and great-great-grandchildren, the "Reruns." In his leisure time, he loved watching the Chicago Cubs and listening to jazz. He also enjoyed fishing and other outdoor activities.

Survivors include two sons, Robert (Mary) Bertrand of Phoenix, Ariz., and Brian Bertrand of Sioux City; three daughters, Renee Harvey of South Sioux City, Nanette (Pat) Linsley of Ponca, and Yvonne (John) LaRusso of San Antonio, Texas; a special daughter, Jodie Sigler of Sioux City; eight grandsons, Robert, Barry, Larry (Emily), Glen, Paul, and Trevor Bertrand, and Ryan and Cory LaRusso; one special grandson, Logan Whitead; eight granddaughters, Michelle (Ron) Gamble, Amy Swanson, Heather Fritzen, Candace Linsley, Shantelle (Troy) Pelchat, Tosha Flockhart, Nichole (Youssef) Ismail, and Jadee Shimitz; 28 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Theresa (Robert) Christiansen and Marialayna (Paul) Cuce, all of Santa Maria, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred L. and Bernadette L. (DuFault) Bertrand; ex-wife, Josephine B. (Stidfole) Brinkerhoff; two sons, Tyron and Troy Bertrand; six brothers, Hank, Donald, Richard, Terence, Francis, and Charles; six sisters, Arline Didiuk-Smith, Ruth Larson, Pearl Hess-Martinez, Rose Pearson, Ameila O'Mara, and Beverly Knight; and one great-great-grandson, Tanner A. Wixom.

Honorary urn bearers will be grand, great-grand and great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for designations to be made at a later time.