Obituary: William Edward 'Bill' Berssenbruegge

Mr. Berssenbruegge

Mr. Berssenbruegge

William Edward "Bill" Berssenbruegge, 94, passed away, Friday, May 15, 2015, in Dewey, Arizona. He was born on March 5, 1921, in Woodlawn, Ohio. His siblings were, Daniel Berssenbruegge and Elizabeth Heilrnann (both deceased).

Bill graduated from Reading High School in 1939 and attended Xavier University. His wife and high school sweetheart, Helen Smiley Berssenbruegge, preceded him in death. In 1942, he pitched one season for the Evansville Bees, the minor league affiliate of the Boston Bees (Braves) baseball team. During WWII, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces Aviation Cadet program in 1942 and was a pilot in the Pacific Theater. He continued to serve our country in the Reserves and the National Guard during the Korean War. Bill retired at the rank of major in the U.S. Air Force. The family lived in Ohio, Indiana, California and then settled in Arizona in 1961. He and Helen raised their four daughters, Kay Price, Lois Granger (Alan), Janis Berssenbruegge (deceased) and Susan Garcia (Sam) in Tempe and supported all of them through Arizona State University. Bill planned many family camping trips and was a jolly St. Nick every Christmas Eve for the kids in the family. In 1947, he began working as a salesman for the Colgate-Palmolive Company until he retired in 1982 Helen and Bill traveled throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, Israel, Russia, Ireland, Egypt and China. He took an extended vacation to tour Japan.

Bill and Helen had six grandchildren Candy Oen (Danny), Juli Lonas (Shawn), Kristi Newman, Lisa Gilbert (Keith), Suzy Kaarup (Lee) and Lynn Poston (James); and 16 great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all, and his faith, love, humor and generosity will live forever. Donations can be made in his name to Honor Flight Arizona 501c3 http://honorflightaz.org/flight-schedule/

No public memorial service is planned. He will be laid to rest in a columbarium at the Prescott National Cemetery.

Information provided by survivors.


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