John Roland Bergren, was born October 13, 1926, at Severy, in Greenwood County, Kansas. The second son of Muriel Dorothy Johnson and Reuben Emmanuel Bergren, he has been called “Jack” all his life. The name on his birth certificate was Roland John Bergren and Jack had it legally changed to John Roland Bergren after he was an adult.
The family lived in a number of different communities during his childhood, moving to Kiowa the summer of 1939. The move to Kiowa was made in a truck, with mother and father riding in front and Jack and his brothers LaVern and Dwight riding on top of the truck with the family’s personal effects. When they came to a hill west of Anthony and looked westward, Muriel exclaimed “my goodness this must be the end of the world.” The hot August sun was shining and there were mirages and waves of heat rising from the road.
Starting high school in Kiowa was a new experience for Jack and his brothers, as previous towns where they had lived, were much smaller and Kiowa seemed like a big city. Jack was and still is a very reserved and shy person and making friends was a little hard. Sports was the love of his life and he went out for all sports, getting acquainted that way.
A very enterprising young man, he mowed yards with a push mower (not gas powered) for 25 cents a lawn. Saving his hard earned money, he was able to pay for his schooling. He also worked for a local grocery store candeling eggs and popped corn for the local theater. He also worked at various farms helping with plowing etc.
He graduated from Kiowa High school in May of 1944. Soon after graduating he went to work for the local ice company. He spent 2 years at El Dorado working for an oil refinery, but was bumped from that job when the war ended and veterans were given back their former jobs.
At an early age Jack was baptized in the Methodist faith. After his marriage to Eva Lavern Robison on March 23, 1951, he was baptized in the First Christian Church at Kiowa. That marriage ended in divorce in 1975.
On May 23, 1981, he was united in marriage to Wilma Darlene Huffman Ricke, at the Baptist parsonage in Hoisington, Kansas. After a honeymoon in the Black Hills of South Dakota, they were at home at 211 E 7th, Hoisington.
On March 5, 1948, he began working for the Western Power and Telephone as a service technician until his retirement in 1987 from Contel, who had purchased the telephone division. His expertise in telephone repair and installation has enabled his to continue that line of work, establishing his own company as Bergren Telephone Company. His son Kerry assisted.
Always active in sports he was a member of the Kiowa Jewelers basketball team, playing forward. He was also a member of the Kiowa Baseball town team, playing short stop for many years. As a young man right after graduation he was “tapped” to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals farm team, but turned the offer down, saying he just didn’t want to leave home.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Darlene Bergren of the home; three children, Joni Lynette Sterling and husband Steve of Alva, Oklahoma, Lori Annette Campbell and husband Kevin of Arkansas City, and Kerry John Bergren of Wichita; four stepdaughters, Crista McMillin, Teresa Scott and husband Bruce, Kathy Lynch, and Terri Davis and husband Brian; three granddaughters, Darbi Lynn Hinde, Kianne Lee Campbell, and Kacee Annette Campbell; one grandson, Brandt Steven Sterling; and two great grandchildren, Sawyer Sterling Hinde and Lincoln Calvin Hinde; and 16 step grandchildren.
Visitation will be Tuesday and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with family to receive friends from 6 - 8p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, September 23, 2021, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Hoisington Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Clara Barton Hospital Foundation in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.