Elmer Melvin Bergo

Elmer "Bubby" Melvin Bergo, age 90, of Hager City, died Sunday, June 8, 2008, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, with his family by his side. After having lived with COPD for many years, he recently suffered a heart attack that led to many complications.
He was born on February 23, 1918, in Mazeppa, Minnesota, to Melvin and Elva (Carlon) Bergo. At a very young age, he left home to work for the Civil Conservation Corps (CCC) at camps in Minnesota. He served with Battery F in the U.S. Army from January 6, 1941 to September 24, 1945, in the Aleutian Islands, Asiatic Pacific Theater and the European African Theater, Returning to Red Wing, he entered into business with his mother, Elva Bergo, operating Bubby's Tavern located on the corner of 4th and Plum Streets. On July 22, 1946, he married Geraldine Breunig in Red wing. They made their home in Red Wing until moving to Hager City, Wisconsin in 1958. He was employed by Northern states Power for thirty-two years, retiring on April 30, 1981, at the age 63.
Survivors include his wife of sixty-two years, Gerry; three children, Anna (Dennis) Helmer of Beldenville, Wisconsin, Bill (Ann) Bergo of Hager City, and Mary (Bob) Tharalson of Hager City; one sister, Val (Curt) Austin of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota; his beloved seven grandchildren, Joel Riester, Scott (Wendy) Riester, Melissa (Wade) Kowalchyk, Kyle (Katie) Tharlson, Katie (Mike) Murphy, Becky (Joey Brunner) Tharalson and Jeanne (Jeff) Hartman; twelve great grandchildren, Tiffany and Zachary Riester, Kennedy, Christina, Hannah and Hailey Kowalchyk, Sophia Tharalson, Bryley Brunner, Lily Murphy, Isabel Hartman, Cassidy Worsham and Emma Leonard. Preceding him in death were his parents; two sisters, Eunice Bergo and Mina Weller; one brother, Harold "Bung Eye" Bergo; two great-grandchildren, Kristen and Joshua Tharalson.

At a very early age, Bubby realized the value of working hard, but also he always found time for a little fun with family and friends. In earlier years, he played softball and baseball and loved to bowl. He spent many weekends at the "shack" in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, hunting and fishing. He loved to read, put picture puzzles together and follow the Bay City Bombers baseball team. He was a member of Harding Hall Darington American Legion Post 357 in Bay City.

Bubby was devoted to his family and with his wife, spent much of their retired years operating "Grandma and Grandpa's Daycare". He spent many hours teaching the little ones their ABC'c and printing their names with stick pretzels. He loved to hold and rock the babies and was even seen in the sandbox a time or two. He was great-grandpa, also known as "The Big Guy". He always had a supply of candy and nuts to fill the various candy machines for the little ones and some big ones.
Bubby lived his life simply with honesty and compassion. He was a man of few words who had a sense of humor and quick wit even to his death. He left his family a wonderful legacy to live by. Even through adversity, push forward and give life all you've got. On the day he died, he was still fighting � he planned to live to be 100.

Funeral will be 3 p.m. Thursday at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson- Mahn Chapel with Father Thomas Donaldson officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery with military honors provided by the Bay City American Legion Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 3 � 7 p.m. Wednesday and one hour prior to the time of services Thursday at the funeral home.