JOHN ALEXANDER BERGMAN, JR
John Alexander Bergman Jr., died Monday, July 7, 2008 at Candler Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born November 6, 1920 in Savannah, Georgia, the eldest of two sons born to John Alexander and Catherine Josephine Siem Bergman. His great-grandparents, Alexander and Eliza McKenzie, purchased the first two lots offered for sale on Tybee Island and were the only residents living there in the 1870's.
John's family moved to Tybee in the early 1920's. He enjoyed an idyllic childhood there, boating to Cockspur Island to picnic with Florence Martus, "The Waving Girl," climbing the Tybee Lighthouse with friends to sail paper airplanes, helping his parents at Bergman's Store, boxing at the Old Post Theater, swimming, delivering newspapers, and playing ball with the Fort Screven soldiers.
A 1939 Savannah High School graduate, John was a member of the1936-37 G.I.A.A. champion Blue Jacket basketball team. He was also a graduate of Armstrong Junior College.
During WWII, he was stationed in Jacksonvillle, Florida with the U.S. Navy as an aviation mechanic. An original member of the 158th Fighter Squadron at Chatham Field Travis Field, he served in the Korean War at Misawa Air Base in Japan. He retired from the 165th Air National Guard Unit in May 1978 with the rank of CMSgt after 34 years of service as Flight Chief and Chief of Quality Control. His military awards include Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal , National Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal , AF Longetivity Service Award Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, United Nations Service Medal, American Campaign 1941-1945 Ribbon, and Georgia Air National Guard Service Medal.
A lifelong member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, John served twelve years on Church Council, was an original member of the Thursday Work Crew, served on the Property Committee and Usher team, and was a Communion Assistant.
He was a 50 year member of Solomon's Lodge #1 F&AM and a member of the German Friendly Society. An avid golfer, he enjoyed his Tuesday foursome at Bacon Park Golf Club. On August 19, 1980, he shot a hole-in-one on the second hole at Mary Calder Golf Club.
John earned his commercial pilot's license, but loved taking his family flying in his small airplane. He was a member of SAFANG and the Bill Summerrell-Andy Swain Gray Eagle Society. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Alexander and Catherine Josephine Siem Bergman, his brother, Herbert Bergman and his beloved wife of 42 years, Delilah Reese Sharpe Bergman.
He is survived by his son, John Alexander Bergman, III and his wife, Elaine of Raleigh, North Carolina, his daughter, Deborah Jeanne Bergman of Savannah, his daughter, Kathryn Bergman Cail and her husband, Gary of Savannah and three grandchildren, Alex, Alyssa and Abby Cail of Savannah.
Visitation will be Wednesday, July 9, 2008 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors Hodgson Chapel.
Funeral Services will be Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church with burial in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
Remembrances to St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church.
FOX AND WEEKS FUNERAL DIRECTORS HODGSON CHAPEL
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