Jack Leroy Bergstrom

He was born on August 30, 1940, in Pontiac, Michigan, the third of four children for Elof and Elizabeth Bergstrom, joining his older siblings Betty and George, followed by his younger brother Bruce. Jack spent his entire childhood in Pontiac and, as a teenager, worked for a period of time in a bowling alley as a pinsetter where he discovered a talent for the game itself (which, as a left-handed bowler, would prove to be quite fortuitous!). 1958 alumni of Pontiac Senior High School, Jack enlisted in the Navy just weeks after graduating, becoming a Radioman.

In July 1959, Jack’s first tour of duty assignment as a NAVY man took him, oddly enough, to the U.S. ARMY Base, Camp Darby, in Livorno, Italy. It was at the base bowling alley that Jack’s skill would indeed prove be a big steppingstone in his life. While helping another lefty bowler - a certain Mrs. Colleen Triplett - to improve her own game, he met her daughter…Vicki and barely a year later, on September 24, 1960, Jack and the love of his life were married. Before leaving Italy when that first tour ended, they welcomed the births of their two children: son Sam, and daughter Lisa (Regehr).

From there, Jack’s navy career took him and his family to a variety of duty stations: The aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, CV-60 (Mayport, FL); Helena, MT; San Diego; the minesweeper USS Enhance, MSO-437 (Long Beach, CA); Honolulu/Pearl Harbor, HI; and, finally, “Down Under. This last tour of duty was to US Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt, a joint U.S. and Royal Australian Navy submarine communications shore base in Exmouth, Western Australia. Fifty years on, Jack and Vicki still considered living in Australia (‘75-‘78) as the one duty station they loved above all others!

Jack’s more prominent highlights of his navy career include being assigned to - and onboard - his first ship the USS Saratoga when it sailed with the naval task force to Cuba to help form the United States Blockade against Communism during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Later, while stationed in Pearl Harbor from 1971-1975 - in his position as the senior Chief Petty Officer and Liaison to the Director of the Navy Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) - Jack had the honor and privilege of being involved in four of NASA’s spacecraft recovery missions: Apollo 16, 17; and SkyLab 3 and 4. It was during the Apollo 16 recovery aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) that Jack was finally able to take part in the time honored maritime tradition of being initiated into the Realm of King Neptune when the ship crossed the equator, and he officially became a Shellback!

Jack retired from the Navy in 1978, having served his country for 20 years, and moved his family from Australia to Bend, Oregon. There he enrolled in - and graduated from - Central Oregon Community College with an Associates of Arts degree. Not long after, he was hired on at Xerox, first as a medical equipment technician and later transferring to their copier division. Jack initially worked out of San Jose, CA, for three years before transferring to Xerox’s northwest territory, with him and Vicki settling in Rockford, just south of Spokane.

Jack became involved in the small-town community by becoming a volunteer EMT and firefighter for the Rockford Fire Department, even dabbling in local politics by serving as Rockford’s mayor from 1990-1991. He retired from Xerox after 18 years, and for the next few years worked part time at the Rockford Napa Auto shop. But a second retirement didn’t slow him down!

Of all Jack’s hobbies and wide-ranging outside interests that continued before and after retirement, which included being an avid and active HAM radio operator since the early days of his military service, his greatest passion remained bowling. From high school and well into his 70’s, no matter where he lived, he made sure he knew where every bowling alley was! For many years Jack consistently held a 200+ average - sometimes in 2-3 leagues simultaneously! - winning a multitude of league and tournament championships in team and individual competitions along the way! At one point early in his naval career, he even considered turning PRO! Jack shared his love and knowledge of bowling by teaching - sometimes introducing - the game to dozens of kids and adults alike throughout the years AND has a perfect 300 game under his belt!

Jack is survived by his wife of 64 years, Vicki, his children Sam (Belinda), Lisa (Duane), six grandchildren, Jason, Joshua, Sara (Sam); Hannah, Michaela, Benjamin, (Lisa); and six great-grandchildren: Asa, Catherine, and Hudson (Joshua); Elliot and Robin (Jason); Austin (Sara); his sister-in-law Judy and his brother Bruce, and many nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents, sister Betty and his brother George.