Bergie A. Ritscher

Bergie A. Ritscher, Lt. Col, retired, age 90, of Alma, WI passed away peacefully at his home while in the loving care of his family following a brief struggle with cancer. He was born on March 16, 1923 on the family homestead in Cream, WI to Adam and Cora (Angst) Ritscher. Bergie was a student at the Cream Elementary School before attending Alma High School where he graduated with the Alma High School class of 1940. He furthered his education at Winona State University. From 1941 until 1946, Bergie began serving his country during WW II as a member of the United States Air Force. During his four years of honorable service, Bergie was a Pilot of a B-25 “Mitchell” Bomber, 345th Bomb Group South Pacific along with becoming an Instrument Instructor (Chinese) Enid, OK. Following WWII Bergie continued serving his country as a member of the US Air Force Reserves, retiring in 1983 as Lieutenant Colonel. On April 20, 1949, Bergie was united in marriage to Marvis Reidt at Zion Lutheran Church in Cream, WI. To this union, four children were born. Following their marriage, Bergie and Marvis owned and operated the Ritscher store in Cream until its closing in 1967. Bergie began a long and successful career with Buffalo County. He held several different positions during his tenure which started in 1950 with the County highway department, 1957-68 as bookkeeper-office manager and in 1969 became the Buffalo County Highway commissioner, a position he held until his retirement in 1986. From 1976 to 1978 he held office positions as secretary, Vice President and President of the WI Highway Commissioners Assoc. From 1978 to 1986 Bergie was Chairman of Commissioners Bridge Committee where he developed criteria for implementing Federal Bridge Programs. From 1987 to 2009 Bergie civically served the Alma area in several different capacities, most notably were his service to Alma as Mayor from 1986 to 1996, Buffalo County Rep on Mississippi Regional Planning Committee, Chairman of the WI Utility tax commission and serving as the chairman of Rieck’s Lake Action Committee. Bergie will be sadly missed by his wife of the past 64 years, Marvis; four children, Barry (Deb) of Alma, Kevin (Marie) of Nelson, Pam (Don) Hessler of Germantown, WI and Todd (Jill) of Alma; nine grandchildren, Stephen (Fiancée, Christal Balow) Ritscher, Cody (Georgia Birtzer) Ritscher, Brady (Chelsey Glass) Ritscher, Ali (Alex Huber) Ritscher, Kyle (Madison Hogue) Ritscher, Cole, Hailey and Lindsey Hessler and Caleb Ritscher; also by nieces, nephews, other relatives and a community of friends. Besides his parents, Bergie was preceded in death by siblings, Melbert, Leora and Ivan. Funeral service will be held on Sunday, September 8 at 3:00 PM at St. John Lutheran Church, Alma with Pastor Joel Bacon officiating with Tom Elliott co-officiating. Burial will follow at Alma Memorial Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Saturday, September 7 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Talbot Family Funeral Home, Alma chapel and again on Sunday, from 1:00 PM until the hour of the service at the church. On Friday, September 6, Bergie will lay in state at the Alma City Hall from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM. The Ritscher family would like to take this opportunity to express their deepest of thank you’s to the Visiting Angels and Mayo Hospice Program, with special thanks to Courtney of Visiting Angels and Liz of Mayo Hospice Program. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.talbotfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, Bergie requested that memorials be directed to Buffalo County Veterans Memorial Restoration project and Mayo Hospice.