David Henry Bergman

David Bergman, 78, of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, February 16, 2012 at his home. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Napier Parkview Baptist Church in Benton Harbor, at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 19, 2012. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Saturday, February 18, 2012, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will take place at the Spring Run Cemetery in St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home, YMCA, St. Joseph (Youth Programs), and the Napier Parkview Baptist Church. Those wishing to sign the memory book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. David was born December 3, 1933 in Ensley Center, Michigan to Claud & Jean (Westers) Bergman. He grew up on the farm, spent 2 years at Grand Rapids Junior College, then on to the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne. David then enrolled at Michigan State University, graduating in 1958. On June 14, 1958, he married Mary Lou Peterson and together they moved to Owosso, Michigan, to begin work with the YMCA. After a short stint there, he worked in Saginaw, MI, Elicott City & Hagerstown, MD, St. Joseph, MI, and Portsmith, OH where he ended his YMCA career. He moved back to St. Joseph and worked at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, until his retirement in 1996. David is survived by his wife Mary Lou Bergman, sons, Steve (Debby) Bergman of St. Joseph, Roger (Mary) Bergman of Navarra, Spain, Jon (Heidi) Bergman of St. Joseph, and Daniel (Kate) Bergman of South Bend, IN, nineteen grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, brothers William (Joyce), Michael (Nancy), and Gary Bergman, sister, Carolyn (Michael) Davidson, and twenty-five nieces and nephews. David was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Jim, Kenneth, and Richard Bergman, and a grandson, Paul Bergman. David liked his garden, sports, work, volunteering (which he and Mary Lou did each winter at Christian Camps all over the south). He enjoyed helping anyone with a project (particularly his family). He loved his friends, family, his loving wife of fifty-three years, and his God. His passion in life was to see all who he came in contact with, to spend eternity in heaven, where he is right now. That same passion has been passed on to his wife, children, many relatives, and countless others who Dave, through the years, encouraged to be about God’s business.