Mary V. Bergmann, 90, of Tripoli, passed from this life as a result of a heart problem on Sunday, October 7, 2012, at the Waverly Health Center.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 17, 2012, at St. Paul Lutheran Congregation in Tripoli with Rev. Dr. Duane R. Lindberg officiating. Burial will be at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery- Siegel of rural Tripoli. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 16, 2012, at Rettig Funeral Home in Tripoli and for one hour preceding services at the church on Wednesday. The family suggests that friends may, if they wish, make memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001.
Mary (Viola) Bergmann, daughter of Rocco and Mary Bouton, was born May 22, 1922, in Cokeburg, Pennsylvania. She was baptized in 1932 in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, also in Cokeburg. She was confirmed in Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Mary attended school in Lebanon, PA, but received her high school diploma from Hawkeye Institute of Technology in Waterloo, Iowa, in 1973.
On June 20, 1943, Mary was united in marriage with Lyle Bergmann at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Siegel, in Bremer County. The couple farmed in Bremer County for 20 years, then moved to Oelwein, where Lyle was employed by Super Crost Seed Corn Company as a District Sales Manager. In 1978, the family moved back to Tripoli for retirement. Mary was a housewife and mother, and survived Lyle, who passed away in 1991. Mary also served faithfully in Women of Life at St. Paul’s Lutheran for many years.
In March of 2008, Mary became a resident of Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community, Waverly, Iowa, where she celebrated her 90th birthday. Although confronted by dementia, she could most often be found enjoying one of the many activities in which she participated. She enjoyed singing and joined the Bartel’s Chapel Choir, praising God through music.
Mary is survived by five children: Sandra Bielfield of Miami, FL; Linda Bergmann of Reston, VA; Ronald Bergmann of Torrance, CA; Rebecca Westcott of Millington, TN; and Robert Bergmann of New Bedford, MA. One child, Richard Bergmann, pre-deceased her in 1989. She is also survived by one sister: Florence Lerum of Ft. Myers, FL; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Her brother, Sam Bouton, also pre-deceased her.
