Ernest Bergeron

Ernest J. "Ernie" Bergeron, age 89 of Melrose, went home to his heavenly Father with peace and joy on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He lived a full life.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, August 26 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Mike Patnode officiating and Rev. Marvin Enneking and Rev. Vincent Lieser concelebrating. Inurnment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Military Honors provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service at the church.

Ernest Jerome Bergeron was born July 22, 1924 in Oklee, Minnesota to Peter and Jane Bergeron. He graduated from Oklee High School in 1942. He entered the service in the U.S. Navy and proudly served on the USS New Orleans from 1942 through 1945 during World War II. Ernie attended St. John's University as its first graduate under the GI bill in 1949. There he met the loved of his life, Eileen, whom he fondly called "Irish". They married in 1950 and raised five daughters. It was 63 years of love and commitment that marked their lives as a couple of faith, in good times and bad.

Teaching was Ernie's vocation, beginning in the early years in Oklee and completed with 32 years at Melrose High School. His contributions to his community and church of St. Mary's included leadership on many levels, in particular his service as Legion district first vice.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, and a life member of the Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 and the American Legion Post 101. Ernie's loves in life encompassed family, school, home on the Sauk River, a place on Little Birch Lake, outdoors, fishing, birds, and later in life, some travels with Eileen.

The Bergeron family is very grateful to the staff at the VA Hospital in St. Cloud for their professional and compassionate care during his last ten months. And lastly, to the community of Melrose which Ernie loved, sends his blessing to all "Das ist Alles".

Survivors include his wife, Eileen Bergeron of Melrose; daughters, Ann (Dennis) McCoy of Lake Crystal, Mary (Wally Westerberg) Bergeron of Clearwater, Sara (Duncan) Whyte of Wiesbaden, Germany, Amy Bergeron of St. Paul, and Paula Bergeron of Grafton, New Hampshire; six grandchildren; sister, Irene Grahek of Ely; and many nieces and nephews.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents; brothers and sisters; and granddaughter, Kathleen McCoy.

Serving as urn bearer will be Amy Bergeron and cross bearer will be Eileen Bergeron. Honorary bearers will be the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.