John Robert Bergmann

John Robert Bergmann was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 9, 1967, and passed away in Lake Orion, Michigan on December 22, 2025. He is survived by his wife, Kristen (Linn), his children Mallory and Michael, his parents Robert and Margaret Bergmann, his sister Sandra Bergmann, her fiancé Angelo Recchia, and nephew Colin Haroutunian. John considered among his immediate family his father- and mother-in-law David and Carmen Linn, his sister-in-law Laura Ranji (Linn) and her husband Gautam Ranji, their children Maya and Jay, and his brother-in-law David Linn.
He was the only son of Robert and Margaret Bergmann. He grew up in St. Clair Shores and Scouting was a fundamental part of John's childhood. Led by his parents, John enjoyed camping most and spent summers working at Cole Canoe Base. He was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's National Honor Society, and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. The Boy Scout Law, "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent" were the guiding principles of John's life.
John's entrepreneurial spirit and business sense came naturally. In high school he started his first business selling ice cream from a cart at local festivals. When he added gyros to the menu, he quickly learned that serving hot and cold food side by side from the same cart presents a challenge, and that not every idea will be a winner.
He leaned into his budding interest in business while his parents were away on a week-long cruise. He transformed his boyhood bedroom into an office by installing an executive desk, replacing his twin bed with a pull-out couch, and scrapping the shag carpet in favor of a low-pile green version symbolizing the color of success.
John attended Wayne State University and graduated with a B.S. degree in Business Administration and Accounting in 1990.
He began his professional career at Deloitte & Touche and earned his Certified Public Accountant certification in 1993. It wasn't long before John was recruited to work for one of his clients, Stahl's Inc., where he held the positions of Controller, and then Chief Financial Officer. Stahl's assigned John to a project that took him to Italy where he lived and worked for two years. He fell in love with the Veneto region, Venice in particular, and made lifelong friends.
In 2001, John started his real estate investment venture, Vernon Properties. The same year, John and Kristen met on a blind date. It was considered fate, given both their parents also met on blind dates. They were married in 2002 and established their home in the Rochester area where they raised their children.
More than anything else, John adored his family. He was steady, loyal, deeply devoted, and his love was unconditional. His life was filled with the joys typical of fatherhood: swim meets, soccer games, and countless school activities. John introduced his son Michael to his love for the Boy Scouts and guided Michael to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout following in his and his father's footsteps.
An outdoorsman at heart, John loved the area's outdoor spaces, and he was fond of being able to dash over to one of his secret fishing holes, kids in tow, to drop in a line, always trying to best the catch from his daughter Mallory's Minnie Mouse pole. John and his family recently traveled to Italy where he was able to share his love of Venice, visiting with dear friends and showing them all his favorite local spots.
While maintaining his real estate business, John joined Interior Partnership Group in 2003 as their Director of Finance, where he worked until 2010. In 2010, John joined Portfolio Solutions, an investment management firm, as their Chief Financial Officer. In 2016, John was promoted to President of the company, responsible for managing all its operations and people.
In 2017 John earned his Certified Financial Planner certification. In 2021, Portfolio Solutions merged with Liberty Wealth Advisors and John was promoted to run the combined business. Under John's leadership, Liberty Wealth Advisors grew from a small firm to managing $2 billion in assets for 750 clients in 44 states. John was instrumental in the success of the company and its eventual sale in 2022, after which he retired from professional life. John left a legacy of servant leadership at Liberty Wealth Advisors and loved serving his team and clients, many of whom became his friends.
Not one to be idle for long, John opened his own financial planning business, J. Robert Bergmann Financial Advisors in 2025.
John was gifted at connecting with others, always eager to lend an ear to listen or a hand to help. He lived the Boy Scout principle of 'Do a Good Turn Daily,' and sought out ways to help others, whether a friend or someone he had just met along the way.
John also embodied the Boy Scout motto of 'Be Prepared.' He was the man many people relied on for mentorship and trusted advice. One of John's closest business partners and friends described him simply as "A good man in a storm."
Later in life, John embraced his Catholic faith, and his faith guided his life. John was a communicant of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Orion where he and Kristen raised their family in the Catholic faith. He recently transitioned to St. John Fisher University Parish and was a participant in their weekly interactive men's group. He truly lived his faith and was known by family, friends, and colleagues as a man of impeccable integrity and personal responsibility.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 8, 2025 – 3pm – 8pm with a 7pm Rosary and Sharing time at Modetz Funeral Home, 100 E. Silverbell Rd., Orion.
Celebration of Life Mass will be held on Monday, March 9, 2025 – 11am with in-state at 10:30am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 715 N. Lapeer Rd., Lake Orion.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pope Francis Center, 2915 W. Hancock St, Detroit, MI 48208