Scott Alan Bergner, age 58, took his last swing at cancer on Thursday, May 23, 2019. He passed away peacefully at home with his adoring wife, Angela (Walters) at his side, and family members, countless friends, and friends of those friends praying earnestly for him. We won’t say the cancer won because, as an amazing writer friend recently said, when he died, the cancer died with him, so it was technically a draw.
Scott was born to Donald and Joan (Hansen) Bergner on August 28,1960, the first of four children. He was followed in two years by sister, Sondra, in two more by brother, Joseph, and two years after that by little brother, Anthony. As a child in the 60’s, he enjoyed the simple, pre-tech childhood of the times — climbing trees, building forts, playing ball, fishing at grandma’s cottage.
And collecting ticks and cuts and new friends along the way. After graduating from Ashwaubenon High School in 1978, he moved to New Orleans at age 18, following an opportunity to train as a transport refrigeration technician for ThermoKing. Whatever Scott applied himself to, he worked tirelessly to become the best at it.
After pursuing advanced training in his field, he became one of only two ThermoKing technicians in the country at that certification level. But New Orleans wasn’t a fit. It was too large and tawdry a place for a young man with Scott’s makeup.
Five years in, he pulled up stakes and returned to Green Bay. Working various jobs, he earned enough to buy a small home on Marshall Ave. on the north side.
There he found company in one of his greatest passions in life — dogs. His two Keeshonds were like children, and stood faithfully beside him until their ripe old age. In the ensuing years, he took on bold, entrepreneurial challenges.
He purchased a Snap-On Tool dealership, where once again, he developed deep expertise and became a consummate salesman, continually earning top honors nationwide. He applied his mechanical prowess to fixing gaming machines for a friend’s business. He also operated a family cigar business for a number of years.
Eventually, he returned to his roots as a refrigeration technician and mechanic with J&B Trucking. Here he found a home and a fit that would last the rest of his life. With his friend and work mate, Corey beside him, they became a prolific team that consistently did the work of many.
Here, like nearly everywhere he worked, he became a most valued employee, one everyone leaned on for answers and turned to for help. And he never let them down. It didn’t matter the time of day, or day of the year, even on Christmas — if he was needed, he answered the call.
He met Angela Walters in 2005, and finally found his true partner and place in the world. They were a good match, enjoying the simple pleasures of time spent together. In May of 2006, they embarked on a new adventure, managing a campground for Scott’s uncle.
Scott continued at J&B as well, but they moved to the campground, living there year round. For eight years, they managed the rental sites, improved the grounds, befriended many transient and returning campers, and enjoyed many peaceful nights together, usually around a campfire. They were married on October 30, 2009 and Scott became a father to Angie’s 10-year old son, Brandon, raising him to adulthood as the love between them became real and deep.
In 2014, they purchased a small home in Suamico near Geano Beach, with ready access and views of the bay out their front window, and settled into the next chapter that would carry them into retirement. About this time, however, Scott began to struggle with COPD. As it progressed, he found himself in and out of the ER quite often, searching for ways to breathe.
In November of 2018, our family gathered for Thanksgiving, not knowing if Scott was well enough to join us, and all completely unaware that he was actually suffering from cancer as well. He texted he and Angie would be coming, and had a story to share that he considered nothing less than a miracle. We eagerly awaited.
After Thanksgiving dinner, he shared the story: A few nights earlier, at dusk, his dog had gotten out and disappeared into some nearby Suamico woods. Scott, who could endure little more exertion than a short walk at this point, ran after him. He had no idea which way the dog had gone, but felt “guided” to move in a specific direction.
Deeper and deeper he went, until he felt equally guided to stop and listen. He heard a faint squeal and peering into the dusk, spotted a small light colored patch in the distance. Approaching, he saw the dog had broken through the ice of a narrow channel and was desperately clinging to a branch.
Without a thought for himself, Scott jumped into the freezing water, neck deep and waded to the dog, catching him just as he could no longer hold on. He tucked the pooch into his jacket, made his way back through the frigid water and woods to his home, where he was able to warm both himself and the dog to a full recovery. How any of this was possible completely amazed him and he attributed it to nothing less than divine intervention.
He said he didn’t understand why God would take time out to help “just him” in this way! Four days after telling the story, during another urgent visit to the ER, he learned that beyond COPD, he had stage IV, inoperable lung cancer and pneumonia to boot. The miraculous story of the dog’s rescue brought to mind Matthew 18:12-14, a reflection of God’s love in the Parable of the Lost Sheep.
As this difficult journey was about to begin, God was showing how much he loved Scott, that he would give everything, even his own son, and leave the 99 to save the one, just as Scott had done for the dog. He was in good hands. Encouraged to fight, Scott and Angie faced the cancer head on.
By early December, he learned it had spread from the lungs & lymph nodes to the brain. He underwent a chemo regimen, followed by radiation treatments. He continued to work as much as he could during treatment, once again more concerned for the burden put on Corey by his absence than his own well-being.
But the cancer wouldn’t yield and soon work became impossible, then so much more, until he could bear it no more. But what began with that initial, awful text that delivered the news of cancer, became a 6-month journey among our extended family of encouragement, prayer, tears, laughter, hope and love that saw Scott’s faith grow in marvelous ways. Eternally optimistic, he never gave up hope that he could beat it, no matter what new challenge was thrown at him.
He marveled at the blessing of each new day, praising the goodness of God. He never lost his sense of humor. And he never stopped putting others’ needs first, even when there was nothing he could physically do to help them.
His desire as the cancer progressed and his body deteriorated was that he not share company with anyone other than his wife. As difficult as it was for all of us, Angie’s complete devotion to him saw it through, never leaving his side as she carried the impossible task of his care to the very end. There is no better picture of true, selfless love for another than what Angela did for Scott.
As he grew quieter and the light of his life grew dim, his goal was simply to make it to Angie’s birthday. He died at 7:25 pm on that day. Left to mourn his passing, in addition to Angela, Brandon and the aforementioned family and friends, are Angie’s parents Sharon and Jene, her other children, Dustin and Kayla, Scott’s son Chris, and grandkids Camron, Kinley, Ezekiel, Jacob, Daniel, Natalie and Jaxson.
Nieces and nephews include Sondy’s children Zak and Lindsey, Joe’s children, Simon and Audrey, Tony’s daughter Sophia. Nieces and nephews on Angie’s side are Emily and Matthew, Ashleigh and Nicki, and Nicole. A private goodbye is being held for immediate family on Tuesday, May 28th, at 9:00am.
We welcome all prayers and messages of encouragement for Angie and family. If you are moved to help offset medical/funeral costs, you may do so through the Scott & Angela Bergner Fund on GoFundMe. www.
gofundme.com/scott-amp-angie-fund As we began to spread word of Scott’s passing, his niece Sophia composed a text to her mother that read “Scott is gone”. Strangely, it autocorrected as she hit send to “Scott is home”. Yes, beloved husband, father, son, brother, child of God…we love you endlessly and miss you terribly, but now you are home.
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