Wallace Nelson Bergren 1912 - 11998

BERGREN, NELSON, CARMICHAEL, MIDDLETON, WINTER, REIMERS, KHATER, FISS

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 5/1/2024 at 11:57:51

Wallace Nelson Bergren was born at Odebolt, Iowa, October 1, 1912, the son of Otto Emil and Emma Alena Nelson Bergren. He was raised on the family farm in Sac County north of Kiron and was confirmed in his Christian Faith at Bethel Lutheran Church in 1928. He received his education in the rural schools before being graduated from the Kiron High School with the Class of 1930. Following high school he was employed as a mechanic for Leslie Larson at the Chevrolet Garage in Kiron until 1937 when he became self employed at his own shop until 1942.

During World War II, from April of 1942 until his discharge in October of 1945, Wallace served his country in the United States Army Air Force being stationed in Scotland and serving as a Staff Sergeant in the Central European Campaigns.

It was while he was in Scotland that Wallace met Katherine Carmichael who would become his wife after the service.

On 5 June 1946, Wallace and Katherine were united in marriage at St. Barbara's Church in Brookfield, Illinois. They made their home on the farm north of Kiron and their union was blessed with three children, Cosette, Scott and Heather. Wallace farmed with his brother Bruce until retiring in 1977. Wallace and Katherine remained on the farm after their retirement until 1991 when they moved to Kiron, Iowa.

Since 21 February 1991, Wallace had resided at Twilight Acres in Wall Lake, Iowa and it was there his death occurred Tuesday afternoon, 13 January 1998. At the time of his death he had attained the age of 85 years, 3 months and 12 days.

Wallace had many interests and hobbies throughout his life as long as his health permitted which included fishing with friends, watching westerns on television, his cats, traveling west to visit cousins in Idaho and he loved reading, especially history including medieval, World War II and early Western United States. A lifelong talent that Wallace possessed was his ability to fix most things mechanical and he maintained a shop at his home until his health failed.

He was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church in Kiron where in earlier years he served on the Church Council and the Building Committee and was a 54 year member of the American Legion Post 383, Kiron, Iowa.

Including his parents, Wallace was preceded in death by one brother, Bruce Bergren and one sister, Cosette Middleton.

Those who remain to cherish his memory include his wife of over 51 years, Katherine Bergren of Kiron, Iowa, three children and their spouses, Cosette and Tom Winter of Bannockburn, Illinois, Scott and Nora Bergren of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Heather and Allen Reimers of Kiron, Iowa, six grandchildren, Susan and husband, Russ Khater of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jennifer Winter-Fiss and husband, Tim Fiss of Dallas, Texas, Amanda Winter of Bannockburn, Illinois, Emily Bergren of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Heath Reimers of Ames, Iowa and A. J. Reimers of Kiron, Iowa, one step great granddaughter, Brittany Fiss of Dallas, Texas, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, 16 January 1998 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Kiron, Iowa with the Rev. Victor N. Johnson officiating. Music for the service included the congregation singing "In The Garden", "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", and "Amazing Grace" with Margaret Ann Buller serving as organist. Casket bearers were Cosette and Tom Winter, Scott and Nora Bergren and Heather and Allen Reimers. Interment was in the Kiron Cemetery at Kiron, Iowa. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of the arrangements.

From Glenn Gustafson