Loren G. “Bert” Bertelsen, age 86, died peacefully on Friday, July 15, 2011 at the Christian Community Home in Hudson, Wisconsin. Bert was born September 7, 1924 in Almena, Wisconsin. He was the son of Herman and Maymie (Soltau) Bertelsen. He grew up on a farm outside Almena. Bert graduated from Barron High School in 1942 and attended the Ag Short Course at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

He served in the Second Marine Division as an amphibious truck operator during the Pacific Campaign of WWII. He took part in the Battle of Okinawa and helped secure Nagasaki at the end of hostilities.

Bert married Jeanette Yousten in 1950 and they settled in Black River Falls where he began working for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. They had three children: Alan, Patricia, and Robert. Jeanette died in 1953 and Bert married Maryan Bakken in 1956. They moved to Madison where they spent the majority of their working lives. Bert was an active member of the Lion’s Club. He retired from the Department of Agriculture in 1987.

Bert then pursued his many hobbies, which included gardening, travel, and coin and stamp collecting. He took great pleasure participating in the lives of his family.

He was preceded in death by his son, Robert Bertelsen and his wife Maryan. He is survived by his son Alan (Carmen) Bertelsen of Red Wing MN, his daughter Patricia (Peter Nash) Bertelsen of Washington DC; and his daughter-in-law Kathy Kuhn-Bertelsen of Menomonie, WI. He is further survived by eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held for Bert at 2:00 PM, with a visitation one hour prior, on Tuesday July 19 at O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 520 S. 11th St., Hudson WI, 715-386-3725. A private burial will be held on Wednesday at Riverside Cemetery in Black River Falls.