Wulf-Eike Kurt Bergemann

Wulf-Eike Kurt Bergemann (Eike) passed away unexpectedly in Columbus, Ohio, on August 4, 2023 with his wife, two sons and brother by his side. He treasured his wife, Shirley; dearly loved his brother, Frank Schulz; was immeasurably proud of his sons, Kurt and Derek; and totally delighted in his beloved grandchildren, Alea, Travis, Anya, and Mira.
Eike was born in Leipzig, Germany, on July 1, 1945, to his parents, Ingeburg and Kurt Bergemann. His father was lost in the war on January 1, 1945, in a battle in Poland six months before Eike was born.
At a young age, Eike's resourcefulness was seen when he would trade chocolate bars for cigarettes with Russian soldiers, knowing his mother could use them to buy bread. He learned to make something from nothing using items others had discarded.
On December 30, 1953, Eike and his mother left Germany to begin a new life in America on the Gripsholm, a Swedish American ship, with all their worldly belongings held in a small wooden box. They built their life in Chicago where Inge married Walter Schulz. Eike took a loving and active role in raising their son, Frank, taking him on trips, and building him go-karts with lawnmower engines and a bike from spare parts.
While in Chicago, Eike received a BA in Geography from Northeastern University. He later met his wife, Shirley, and they welcomed two sons, Kurt and Derek.
Following his entrepreneurial spirit, Eike moved his family to Columbus, Ohio where he owned and ran Scandinavian Design furniture store. His eldest son Kurt spent summers and weekends working by his side for five years, beginning at the age of 14. Eike was known for his warmth, his energy, and his genuinely friendly way of treating people, employees and strangers alike.
As a business owner and, more importantly, as a father, Eike consistently demonstrated kindness, resourcefulness, and the importance of taking care of the people that matter to you. He also knew the transformative powers of time spent in the woods and on the water and took his sons on camping trips to Wisconsin and Canada. On these trips he shared camping, canoeing, and wilderness survival skills with them, which gave them a sense of confidence and a connection with nature that still gives strength to their lives today.
Strong yet loving and compassionate, especially when faced with difficult circumstances, his spirit was to make the best of every situation. Never one to complain or look back, he would often say that the only thing you can work with is the positive: if you find yourself hanging off the edge of a cliff, look for a branch to grab onto.
Eike valued people and enjoyed engaging in intense conversations with family and friends. He brought his sharp wit and wisdom to everyone he was with. He held a broad worldview and delighted in discussing global history and philosophy. He loved asking those he knew, "Who are your people?" He truly wanted to understand their background and what shaped them.
He was a sentimental man whose greatest love was his family. Eike was at his happiest tending the five acres of land around his home; and hosting and feeding his family and friends around a large dinner table filled with food, ensuring all those he loved were well-fed; and sitting on the front porch of his family's Massachusetts cabin watching his grandchildren as they played in the brook, surrounded by the pines and the people he loved.
Eike poured enthusiasm into every part of his life, whether it was greeting you with a heartfelt "Yay!" every time you walked through the door, or gifting you with whatever he knew you would enjoy. He was generous and gentle and took great pride in knowing what would make his people smile.
He put great effort into building good memories for his family. He will be deeply missed.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Shirley; his two sons, Kurt and Derek Bergemann; his brother, Frank Schulz; his grandchildren, Alea Bergemann, Travis Bergemann, Anya Bergemann, and Mira Bergemann; and also by nieces, Kate Askegaard and Lora Ristau; grandnephews, Colin Askegaard and Sutton Theobalt.
Eike's life will be honored in a private family gathering. The family is in the care of Rutherford Funeral Home at Powell. http://rutherfordfuneralhomes.com
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