Verner A. "Bert" Bertelsen

1929 - 2011

Verner "Bert" Bertelsen

Verner A. "Bert" Bertelsen, 81, of Belleville, Ill., born Tuesday, Jan. 29, 1929, in Minneapolis, Minn., went to be with his Lord and Savior at 3:10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011.

Mr. Bertelsen, better known as Bert was a 1951 graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He then joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He married on April 6, 1952 to Gloria Lee Johnson of East St. Louis, Ill. They then resided in Wichita, Kan., at McConnel Air Force Base for 3 1/2 years. On returning to civilian life he worked at White Rodgers for a time and in 1958 he began his life's work as manager and then owner of Thrifty Hardware in Cahokia, Ill. He remained there until 2005, when Alzheimers Disease made him retire. He was an avid sports fan and bowler, with over a 200 average. He was a member of Signal Hill Lutheran Church in Belleville, Ill. He was very active in church through the years as a deacon, elder and vice president. He ushered for more than 50 years combined at Trinity Lutheran, Peace Lutheran and Signal Hill Lutheran.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Neils and Mabel, nee Hansen, Bertelsen.

Surviving are his wife, Gloria L., nee Johnson, Bertelsen; children, Brenda Lee (Don) Murrell of Vandalia, Ill., David Allen (Sarah) Bertelsen of St. Louis, Mo., Mark Anton Bertelsen of Houston, Texas and Daniel Neils Bertelsen of Belleville, Ill.; brother, Allan (Gloriann) Bertelsen of Fresno, Calif.; grandchildren, Nelson Sprague, Rianna Sprague, Ian Murrell, Keith (Kendra) Bertelsen, Kali Bertelsen and Joshua Scalf Bertelsen; sisters-in-law, Virginia Kirkland of Belleville, Ill., and Ruth Grunwald of Belleville, Ill.; nephews, Steven, Herman, Eric and Freddy; and niece, Kyla.

Memorials may be made to Signal Hill Lutheran Church or Alzheimer's Association. Condolences may be expressed online at www.kurrusfh.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011, at the Kurrus Funeral Home, Belleville, Ill.

Funeral: A funeral procession will leave from Kurrus Funeral Home at 10:15 a.m. Monday Jan. 31, 2011, for a 10:30 a.m. funeral service at Signal Hill Lutheran Church in Belleville, Ill., with Pastor Mark Wiesner officiating. Interment will follow at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Ill.

KURRUS FUNERAL HOME, Belleville, Ill.