Kenneth D Bergquist (1921 - 2003)

Kenneth D. Bergquist, 82, of Edgewood Vista, formerly of Chambersburg Ave., died Tuesday, June 3, 2003, in St. Luke's Hospital, as a result of complications of lung cancer. He was born on April 12, 1921, in Duluth to David and Esther (Rodenius) Bergquist. Ken was a lifelong Duluth resident and a 1940 graduate of Denfeld High School. He was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran of World War II, serving in North Africa and Italy with Headquarters Squadron, 49th Bomb Wing of the 15th Air Force, achieving the rank of Technical Sergeant. Ken had been an employee of the former Heule Brothers Auto Parts and the Duluth Superior Transit Company. He was a firefighter for the Duluth Fire Department, retiring in 1982, as captain, after 27 years service. He had also worked on a part time basis for F&I Sales, testing and refilling fire extinguishers. Ken married Aileen Johnson on Nov. 16, 1943, in First Covenant Church. They would have celebrated 60 years of marriage in November. He enjoyed times with family, making homemade root beer at Christmas, fishing, spending time at the cabin at Maple Lake, Alborn, and fishing and in earlier years, vacation time at a cabin on East Bass Lake near Cotton and partridge hunting. While at a family picnic, at the Duluth Auto Club, he rescued and saved the life of a drowning boy. He was a lifelong member of First Covenant Church, member of Duluth Firefighters Retirees Association and a former member of the International Association of Firefighters Local No. 101. Ken was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Arnold and Ethel Johnson; sister, Ruth Nolte; and brother-in-law, Bob Nolte. Survivors include his wife, Aileen; children, Paul K. (Jane) Bergquist of Saginaw, Laurel A. (William) Reese of Crosby, Thomas D. (Barbara) Bergquist of Cumming, Ga. and Wendy M. (Gary) Johnson of Hermantown; sister, Kathryn (Chester) Wedin of Duluth; grandchildren, Patrick (Jennifer) Bergquist and their children, Brooklyn and Blake, Jason Bergquist, Jodi (Bradley) Van Valkenburg and their children, Jared, Brenan and Ramsey, Heidi (Scott) McLeod and their unborn child due in October, Heather (Frank) Solorzano and their daughter, Sofia, Mark Bergquist (fiancee, Robin Mitchell and children, Jordan and Haley), Nicholas Reese, Danielle Reese, Philip Bergquist and Michael Bergquist; in-laws, Stuart and Alice Kortebein and Arnold Warren and Margaret Johnson; and nieces and nephews. VISITATION: 5-7 p.m. Friday in Bell Brothers Chapel and continue from 10 until the 11 a.m. service in First Covenant Church, 21st Ave. W. and Second St., Rev. Mark Kelly officiating. Interment Oneota Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Duluth Combined Honor Guard and a Final Alarm Salute by the Duluth Fire Honor Guard. If so desired, memorials may be directed to First Covenant Church or the donor's choice. Arrangements by Bell Brothers Funeral and Cremation Services, Bell Brothers Chapel, 601 N. 56th Ave. W. This obituary was originally published in the Duluth News Tribune.