Walter A Bergmann

On May 16th, 1943, Walter Bergmann was born to Henry and Marie Bergmann. He had two older brothers, Ruddy and Ernest. From a young age, he helped-out on their small farm, and by age 12, he was picking peaches at nearby farms during the summers. But his dream was to drive the large, 18-wheeler, diesel trucks. By age 15, he had talked George, the owner of Kimura Trucking, into letting him drive truck for him. He started by driving “Bobtail” trucks around town but was soon driving the 18-wheeler trucks. Almost a year later, he was pulled-over by a Highway Patrol Officer because he could not see anyone driving the truck. Being small for his age, Walt could barely see over the steering wheel! So, the Highway Patrol told Kimura Trucking “no more.” But at age 16, when it was legal, Walt was back to driving truck. Most of the money he earned, about 80%, he gave to his parents. He had many stories to tell of his truck-driving adventures, including one where the truck kept going faster and faster, soon up to 80 miles-per-hour without any reason! After panicking many minutes, unable to control the truck, Walt finally saw in his side mirror another truck-driving buddy from Kimura in another truck behind him pushing his truck faster and faster as a prank!

At age 18, Walt left trucking for two years to work at Camarillo State Hospital. He worked as a Psych Tech and felt he was helping others. He body-surfed and tinkered with cars in his spare time. While working there, he made lifelong friends. After two years, he moved back to Reedley.

Besides his truck-driving stories, Walt Bergmann was known for his smile—He had a smile that could light up the world! One day, driving truck through Dinuba, he saw Phyllis, and he smiled and waved at her. She waved back. From then on, whenever he saw her, he would wave and smile, until finally asking her out. While dating, they even travelled by truck together sometimes on his trips to Los Angeles or San Francisco, until they were married in 1966. Soon realizing that he would need to earn more money, Walt enrolled in Reedley College and later Fresno State where he earned a degree in Geography.

He then began teaching 5th and 6th Grade at Traver School in 1969, when it was required to still required to wear a tie. Not only did he teach, but when he started, he also drove the bus! He would start every day picking-up the kids, teach the full day, and then drive them home. He soon taught 7th and 8th Grade, but spent most of his career as the 8th Grade Teacher, as well as the vice-principal. He also coached every sport Traver School had, referee’d, and taught summer school.

Soon after he began teaching, Walt Bergmann also began farming. He and Phyillis owned 20 acres they soon moved an old two-story house onto, and grew wheat and alfalfa. Walt and Phyllis travelled all over California on many adventures, especially to his favorite place, the desert! They soon had two sons, Steven and Daniel. After selling the farm and living in town a few years, they bought another farm and grew grapes they sold mainly as raisins to Sunmaid.

Walt then also found time to sell real estate for Newton, mostly farmland. Then after getting his own broker’s license, he started his own real estate company, Sunco Real Estate!

At this point, Walt was teaching, coaching, farming, and selling real estate all at the same time! He would often work late into the night driving tractor or irrigating the farm, or talking to clients on the phone, before getting up early to teach the next day. They finally sold the farm in 1988 and moved to Visalia, where he loved to grow grapes in his backyard.

During his career as teacher, Walt was very innovative. He discovered or invented many unconventional methods of teaching. He loved his job! He taught for a total of 37 years, ending his career teaching at Wasco State Prison, and retired.

But that didn’t slow him down. He rode 11 miles a day on his bike every day for many years, and he loved to drive his pick-up around town on errands and tell his stories to anyone who would listen! He passed away on August 23rd, 2025. He will be greatly missed as a loving husband and father.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, his sons, Steven and Daniel; his brother Earnie and Earnie’s wife Sandy; his nieces and their husbands, Teresa and Bill Schmutte, Diana and Randy Copland, Jill and Kevin Coomer; his sister-in-law, Pam Reddell, and his nephews and their wives, Mathew and Casie Reddell, and David and Wendy Reddell.