Dennis Ardel Bergren died Sunday, March 25, 2018 surrounded by family at his daughter’s home in Crystal Lake, Illinois. He was born Friday, August 10, 1934 in Audubon, Minnesota, the 3rd child of four to the late Leonard and Marie Bergren. As a young boy, Dennis enjoyed his relationships with his brother, sisters, aunts, uncles, and his Grandparents.
He enjoyed sharing stories from both Grandfather’s farms; harnessing and working with horses, driving tractors,shocking bundles of dry grain,… Read More » hauling shock bundles, and all the lessons involving hard work on the farm. In high school, estimated at 85 kids total, he played nose tackle and center in 6-man football, guard on the basketball team, and “whatever sport he could”. By the time he was 16, his jobs had included picking potatoes where he could make a little more money.
In 1952, Dennis entered North Dakota State University. As God planned it, Dennis met and married the love of his life, Jeanne Marie Hoge of Baldwin, North Dakota. Together they began a whirlwind college romance in 1953 that would last over 65 years.
They were married on Saturday, September 4, 1954 at the First Lutheran Church in Bismarck, North Dakota. with a honeymoon in the Black Hills South Dakota. Dennis and Jeanne started a family with the birth of their first son, Dennis Paul Bergren.
He earned a degree in Chemistry graduating in 1957 . Dennis and Jeanne, along with young Paul spent many weekends visiting Jeanne’s family farm near Bismarck ND. They also loved spending time with Dennis’s family in Audubon, MN.
They would go out dancing with Dennis’s brother, sisters, their spouses, and enjoyed time with the new additions to their young families. It was during this time, Dennis and Jeanne added two new faces to their gatherings, twins Stephanie Kae Bergren and Stacie Jo Bergren. In 1957, Dennis was employed by Sherwin Williams in Chicago and moved his growing family to the northwestern suburbs of Illinois.
In 1962, Dennis and Jeanne added three more Bergren children, triplets Denise Jeanne Bergren, Lisa Marie Bergren, and Daniel James Bergren. Three years later, Teresa Sue Bergren was born and to Dennis and Jeanne, the Bergren family was complete. For the next twelve years, Dennis enjoyed his family time, new challenges and self-taught skills.
Dennis and Jeanne flipped a house in Arlington Heights before flipping was in vogue. In 1960, Dennis’s work took him to a new employer, DeSoto Chemical, a paint and detergent manufacturer. DeSoto was also a supplier to Sherwin Williams, his former employer.
From 1960 to 1988, Dennis received over twelve promotions including Vice President and Director of Research, Vice President of Purchasing, and finally, President of Chemical Products Division. All while he contributed his personal time as a Little League Umpire and a member of the Chicago Shriners Choral Group. During his corporate working career, Dennis received several awards including President of the Chicago Paint Society, Outstanding Member of the Year for the Paint and Chemical Society.
He served on scientific committee’s at NDSU and National Committee’s meeting in Washington DC. Dennis managed several national industrial teams in the paint industry outside his regular job resulting in improvements for all paint end users. Results included color matching color cards still used today.
And color code mixing stations/shakers used at every paint supplier store today. Family time included three memorable five-week summer vacations with seven kids, a station wagon, and a camp trailer. Dennis took his family to the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, the Hearst Castle, Disneyland, up highway one in California to the Streetcars in San Francisco, and the Redwood Forest.
The family of nine camped at most locations including Glacier National Forest, Yellowstone, and the Rocky Mountains in Canada all while visiting extended family members living around the US. In 1977, Dennis moved the family to Crystal Lake, Illinois. Dennis and Jeanne took an opportunity to rebuild the oldest house built in McHenry County Nunda Township located on a 40-acre property in the country.
It is safe to say; the Colonel Holcomb house stands today because of Dennis and Jeanne’s vision, hard work, and quality workmanship. In 1987, with their children from high school to young adults, Dennis and Jeanne decided to leave the corporate world, and to turn their 40-acre property in Crystal Lake into one-acre home sites thus starting Singing Hills Construction. The vision and hard work for The Colonel Holcomb subdivision has resulted in a of pride now and well into the future for our family.
Family can find a street named Bergren Court in the sub-division. In 1991, Dennis and Jeanne decided to take on another project. A lake property located in Park Rapids, MN, also in dis-repair.
Dennis and Jeanne’s vision for family time was again realized as Long Lake became everyone’s favorite vacation retreat from 1991 to this day. In retirement, Dennis spent time with his grandchildren fishing, boating, tubing, skiing, and sharing stories around the campfire. Always up for a challenge, during his retirement, Dennis became a member of the Building Committee at Hubbard United Methodist Church, followed by his membership of the Hubbard United Methodist Church Construction and Feasibility Committee, then became a member of the building committee and finance chairman.
Dennis enjoyed his time in the local men’s bible study groups and playing Bridge year-round with friends from the Long Lake area and Hubbard Methodist Church. Dennis and Jeanne traveled extensively together throughout the US, and as far away as Africa. Although, no event involving a grandchild, performance or celebration, was too far to travel to with wife Jeanne.
Dennis will be remembered for his hard work and can-do attitude, his love for hunting and fishing, his dedication and love for his family, and his desire to have fun in celebrating every holiday, birthday, and accomplishment with family. Survivors include his wife of 63 years Jeanne Marie Bergren, his daughter’s in Crystal Lake, Il. , Stephanie Campbell (Archie), Stacie Lausch (Kerry), Denise Bergren, Lisa Bergren, and Teresa Umbach of Manitowish Waters, WI.
, and his son Daniel Bergren (Laurel) of St Charles, Illinois. (13) Grandchildren; Jason Bergren, Dennis Bergren, Thomas Bergren, Ashley Campbell, Tyler Lausch, Lindsey Lausch, Victoria Bergren, Jessica Bergren, Jake Bergren, Jordan Bergren, Kirsten Umbach, Rachel Umbach, and Siri Anna Herron, (2) Great Grandchildren; Prestyn Campbell, and Reagan Lausch. His sister Kathy Berg (Jerome) of Watertown, MN.
, and brother Leonard Bergren (JoAnn) of Georgetown, TX. , and several nieces and nephews. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Marie Bergren, his sister Beverly Torgerson, his son Dennis Paul Bergren (Linda), his grandson Eric James Bergren, and his son-in-law David Umbach.
Services will be held May 19, 2018 at 11:00AM at Hubbard United Methodist Church near Park Rapids, MN. The family has suggested memorial gifts be made to Hubbard Methodist Church in Dennis’s name.
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