Russel Edwin Bergsma
August 25, 1921 - January 2, 2005
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Date of visitation: January 5, 2005
Time of visitation: 2:00 PM
Date of service: January 6, 2005
Time of service: 10:00 AM
Funeral home: Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes - Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
Obituary:
Russel E. Bergsma was a man with a great mind, an appetite for life and an incredibly admirable work ethic. He understood the value of hard work and knew how to persevere through difficult circumstances. Russel squeezed a lot of living out of life and was a great example to all who knew him.
The early 1920s were a collage of interesting events. There were power struggles in Russia, Babe Ruth was setting records and the first Miss America was crowned. But for most of the people living in the farming community of Walker, Michigan, such happenings were nothing more than headlines in the newspaper. Their lives centered around raising their families and earning a living. This was the life of Oscar and Della (Kalsbeek) Bergsma. The Bergsma owned a fruit farm by their home on Kinney Road NW, and on August 25, 1921, they welcomed the birth of their son, Russel, at home. The Bergsma family would grow to include thirteen children in all, making for a joyful and busy household.
Russel attended the Zinser grade school through the eighth grade and then left to work on the family farm. By the time he was eighteen, Russel received his draft notice from the U.S. Army and served four years in North Carolina, Alabama and Hawaii before being honorably discharged. In the 1940s, Russel met and married Genevieve Koll and they had two sons, Donald and Roger. Their marriage, however, did not last and they divorced in the early 1950s. Some time later, Russel found love again when he met Marjorie Sweeris. They were happily married and had three children: Daniel, Darrel and Ruth Ann, who died in infancy. For a while, the family lived in an upstairs apartment on Alpine until Russel finished building their home on Sunset Hills.
After Russel returned home from the service, he once again made the choice to serve others, this time by joining the Grand Rapids Fire Department, following in the footsteps of his former father-in-law, who was a captain in the Department. Russel stayed with the Department for 20 years before retiring in the 1960s. During his time with the fire department and after his retirement from there, he operated a rubbish business and worked on the fruit farm that he and his brother Norman bought from their father. In addition, Russel worked part-time for Grutter Machinery for many years, building saws until they closed.
As a hard worker and a dedicated father, Russel was an excellent example to his children. He taught them the importance of responsibility, of a hard days work and strong values that would guide them through their lives. His children remember how for many years their father would be up at 4 a.m. to go to the farm market and did not return until 8 p.m. while their farm chores included picking and sorting apples. Dan often got out of his chores early so that he could play fast pitch softball, which their Dad showed up later for every game.
Russel had been raised in a strict Christian home, and his strong faith was a hallmark of his life. He adamantly held Sunday as a day of rest and the kids could not play outside and he would cook beef roast for Sunday dinner so that his beloved wife did not have to. The family attended several different churches � Calvary Undenominational Church, Standale Baptist Church, Wealthy Park Baptist Church, but ultimately settled in the Standale Baptist congregation. It wasn�t necessary for him to tell others of his faith, for his Christian commitment in living a righteous life was always evident through his actions, his words and his faith. His Bible was his most treasured possession on this earth and his favorite verses were Roman 8:37-39.
In 1992, Russel fully retired in order to vigilantly care for his wife Marjorie, who sadly died a year later. His constant companion then became their pet West Highland Terrier named Sparky. Marjorie actually brought Sparky home and at the time, Russel was not too enthusiastic about him, but they grew to be good pals. In fact, while at a gas station, Sparky accidentally locked the car doors with the motor running and Russel not able to get in. In his free time, Russel enjoyed a variety of hobbies like gardening, listening to Tiger baseball games or boxing on the radio and was a big NASCAR and Jeff Gordon fan. He and Marjorie also used to bowl on several leagues in their younger days. His favorite music was gospel quartets, old hymns and the Gaither Vocal Band. Although he loved to eat at the Old Country Buffet, he always maintained that his favorite place on earth was at home, especially after a hard days work. One of the happiest moments in Russel�s life was his 80th birthday when his family threw him a surprise party. His greatest advice to his family was �enjoy the journey of life.�
Russel left his children with many great memories, but more importantly, he left them with the unforgettable example of what a good father and grandfather can be. He will be greatly missed and frequently remembered.
Russel E. Bergsma died on Sunday, January 2, 2005. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Bergsma; sisters, Norma and Bertha; and brothers, John and George Bergsma. Russel�s family includes his children: Donald C. Bergsma of Grand Rapids, Roger (Shirley) Bergsma of Ravenna, Daniel (Lonnie) Bergsma of Holland, Darrel (Marlene) Bergsma of Coopersville; four grandchildren; sisters and brothers: Norman (Myrtle) Bergsma of Marne, Edward Bergsma of Grand Rapids, Oscar (Dorothy) Bergsma of Walker, Robert (Joyce) Bergsma of Walker, Ruth (Ray) Opdendyk of Las Vegas, Helen Camp of Wyoming, Wilma (Al) Twiest of Walker; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 6, at 10 a.m. at the Standale Baptist Church, 3714 Lake Michigan Drive NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with Pastor John Watson officiating. Interment in Washington Park Memorial Gardens. Friends may spend time with Russel�s family on Wednesday, January 5, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW, Grand Rapids. Please visit Russel�s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution to either the American Heart Association or the Standale Baptist Church.
