Henry "Hank" Frederick Bertelkamp, Jr.

Henry Frederick “Hank” Bertelkamp Jr., lived a life defined by faith, family, service, leadership, and love for others. A respected businessman, U.S. Army veteran, devoted family man, and cherished ambassador to the University of Tennessee basketball program, Hank died on December 19, 2025. He was 94 years old.

After many successful years as a sales engineer for Bellows Valvair, Hank founded Bertelkamp Fluid Power, Inc. in 1975, later renaming it Bertelkamp Automation, Inc. (BAI) in 1985. Under his leadership, BAI grew into a major factory automation firm in the Southeast. Hank built a culture rooted in honesty and integrity and was most proud of the family atmosphere he fostered and the company’s low employee turnover. Bertelkamp Automation marked its fiftieth anniversary with a company-wide celebration in May 2025.

While Hank was earning a reputation as a business leader, he was also becoming an important Knoxville community leader. He generously gave his time, talents, and resources to numerous organizations, including the Helen Ross McNabb Center, Thrive, InterFaith Health Center, Knox Youth Sports, and the United Way.

Hank served in several notable leadership roles, chief among them Chairman of the Greater Knoxville Chamber of Commerce and President of Cherokee Country Club. He also served on the board of the University of Tennessee Athletic Department and remained a popular and respected presence in UT athletics well beyond his playing days. Fittingly, he was inducted into the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

Hank Bertelkamp was born on October 5, 1931, to Henry Frederick Bertelkamp Sr. and Elizabeth Bosler Bertelkamp in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended duPont Manual High School, where he was a standout basketball player and graduated in 1949.

That fall, Hank moved to Knoxville after earning a basketball scholarship to the University of Tennessee. He played forward for the Volunteers from 1950 to 1953 and was named team captain during his senior season. His teammates voted him the team’s Most Valuable Player, and he was selected to compete in the East vs. West college all-star game.

While Hank forged many lifelong relationships on the hardwood, he formed countless others off the court—many of them at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house—friendships that would endure for the rest of his life.

After graduating from UT with a degree in business administration, Hank was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He served two years at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, followed by fifteen months in Pusan, Korea. His service instilled a lifelong sense of duty and patriotism.

In 1954, Hank married Jane Smith of Loudon, Tennessee. Together they raised two children, Bert and Lori, whom he loved deeply. His children often said, “When God was handing out dads, we must have been at the front of the line.” Hank was a devoted grandfather to five grandchildren and a proud great-grandfather to four great-grandchildren, deeply present in each of their lives. He was committed to making every child feel known and cherished. Hank believed family was the backbone of the nation—a conviction he lived out daily.

Jane passed away in 2008 after 54 years of marriage. Hank found love again when he met Sandra “Sandy” Fiser whom he married in late 2009, joyfully expanding his family to include her three children and their spouses, as well as seven grandchildren. Hank and Sandy shared sixteen love-filled years together. Sandy was a devoted and compassionate caregiver, a quality Hank deeply cherished, especially in the final years of his life.

Hank was a devout Christian and an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, where he served several terms as Senior Warden. He loved playing golf and attending Saturday morning Bible study at Cherokee Country club with his friends—many of whom were his Sigma Alpha Epsilon brothers.

Hank was loving, honest, loyal, earnest, optimistic, revered, patriotic, humble, wise, cherished and genuine. He lived his values fully, loved others generously, and leaves behind a legacy that will endure.

Hank was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Elizabeth Bertelkamp, Jane Bertelkamp, and their son David Bertelkamp.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sandy Bertelkamp; son Henry Frederick (Bert) Bertelkamp III (Sheila); daughter Lori Bertelkamp McKelvy (Tom); grandchildren Wizzie Irvin (Dan), Lan Jones (Cara), Brownie Bertelkamp (James Michel, fiancé), Lillie Bodie (Grant), and Hank Bertelkamp; great-grandchildren Scotty and Sonny Irvin, and London and Brooks Jones; stepchildren John Fiser, David Fiser (Wendy), and Caroline Osborne (John); and step-grandchildren Bo and Chase Fiser, Alli Dew, Sam, Jack, Kirby, and Luke Osborne.

The family would like to express their gratitude to The Right Reverend Brian Cole, The Very Reverend Christopher Hackett, The Reverend Canon Thom Rasnick, The Reverend Dr. Jerry Askew, Dr. David Rankin, Dr. Jeff Johnson, Dr. Milend Desai and the Cleveland Clinic, the Cherokee Country Club Men's Bible Study, caregivers Jeanine Cozart, Anthony Garner, Anthony B. Garner, Jermaine Jamesion, Kipper Melmige, Dollie Sauls, Mary Sowell, and UT Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John's Episcopal Cathedral, 413 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902, or online at https://stjohnscathedral.tpsdb.com/give

A graveside service will be held at Berry Highland Memorial, 5315 Kingston Pike on Tuesday, December 23 at 1:00pm. A Celebration of Life for Hank will be held at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 4:00pm with a reception to follow in the Great Ross Hall.