BERGREN, ORVILLE V.
VIRGINIA BEACH – Orville Vernon Bergren, 88, passed away peacefully July 31, 2007, at Seaside Health Center at Atlantic Shores.
Born Nov. 5, 1918, in Minneapolis, Minn., Orv was the son of the late Norah and Alex Bergren. He graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1940, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He was awarded a regular commission in the U.S. Marine Corps through the ROTC program. He was the executive officer of the Marine detachment aboard the battleship USS West Virginia when it was sunk in the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. He later participated in the landings and capture of Guam and Okinawa and in the initial occupation of Japan during World War II. He married his wife, Carrie, in San Diego in 1943. Among his post-war duties were three years at George Washington University, from which he received his law degree. From 1957 to 1960, he represented the Secretary of Defense on Capitol Hill. He was a dedicated servant to our country. Semper Fidelis.
After retiring from the Marine Corps as a colonel in 1960, he joined A.O. Smith Corporation in Milwaukee, Wis. In 1965, he joined the Illinois Manufacturers Association in Chicago and subsequently became president of this 6,000 company member organization until his retirement in 1983. He and Carrie then enjoyed 20 years of retirement in San Diego, Calif. An avid golfer all his life, he was a member of the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo, where he was the club champion in 1987. He and Carrie moved to Virginia Beach four years ago where they have enjoyed a new chapter in their lives at Atlantic Shores. He was predeceased by his brother, Harvey Bergren.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 64 years, Carrie Bergren of Virginia Beach; two sons, Steve Bergren and wife Cristina of Woodside, Calif., and Scott Bergren and wife Bama of Dallas, Texas; daughter, Sue Budorick and husband Tim of Virginia Beach; grandchildren, Christine Orr and husband James; and great- granddaughters, Emma and Mia White of Encinitas, Calif., Diana Bergren of Highland Park, Ill., and John, Lauren, Kate and Abby Budorick of Virginia Beach. He was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who was so proud of all of his offspring. Orv, Dad, Grumpy – you will be greatly missed by your loving family and a multitude of friends near and far.
The family wishes to thank his primary care physician, Dr. Ana Vazquez, for her dedicated, compassionate care, as well as Dr. Raymond Lance and Dr. Paul Chupka and all of the health care workers – physicians, physicians assistants, nurses and aides, who provided amazing care in his final months. Thanks to everyone at Seaside Health Care Center at Atlantic Shores for the wonderful, compassionate care during the past week.
At his request, there will be no formal services. He will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with many of his old friends. A celebration of his life will be private. The family suggests memorials be made to the charity of one’s choice. The Cremation Society of Virginia, Virginia Beach office, is handling the arrangements.