Bruce Marshall Bertram, 84, passed away peacefully on December 16th, 2021, surrounded by
his family in the comfort of the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice in Sheboygan Falls,
Wisconsin.
Bruce was born on February 28th, 1937, to Borghild (Giswold) and Clarence Bertram in Duluth,
Minnesota. After graduating from Denfeld High School in 1955, he earned his Bachelor of
Science in Geological Engineering (1959) as well as his Master of Science in Business
Administration (1964) from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. During
his time at Michigan Tech, he became a lifelong brother of the Sigma Rho Fraternity.
Spending most of his career in the salt industry, Bruce began working in the salt mines near
Detroit, Michigan. His vocation allowed him countless opportunities to work in unique
locations. While in Detroit, he met his soulmate, Carolyn Wendy Kaarto. He was the Plant
Manager of the solar salt works on the island of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. He was an
engineer for Amira Leather in Sheboygan, Wisconsin as well as at the International Salt
Company on Avery Island, Louisiana. He finished his career as the Technical Director of The Salt
Institute in Alexandria, Virginia. Upon retiring, he and his wife, Wendy, returned to Sheboygan
County settling in Kohler.
Bruce and Wendy summered on the beautiful shores of Lake Superior on the Keweenaw
Peninsula of Upper Michigan in their second home which is fondly referred to as, ‘The Camp’.
Generations of their family have enjoyed sharing this special retreat with them, and The Camp
has provided countless memories for their loved ones.
Surviving Bruce are his wife of 60 years, Carolyn Wendy Bertram of Hancock, Michigan;
daughter, Jayne (Randy) Ries of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; son, Erik (Maria) Bertram of Tomball,
Texas; and daughter Julie Mims of Winder, Georgia. He leaves behind seven grandchildren:
Abby (Chris) Helminiak of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Kate (Tony) Knapton of Austin, Texas; Emmett
Bertram of San Antonio, Texas; Alaina Bertram of Houston, Texas; Wendy Mims of Winder,
Georgia; and Parker and Nolan Bertram, of Tomball, Texas. Additionally, he is survived by his
five great-grandchildren: Sloane, Miles, and Hadley Helminiak and Josephine and Bennett
Knapton. He is also survived by his sister, Carole (Bertram) McDonald, of Eagle River, Alaska, as
well as many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and great nephews. He is preceded in death by
his parents; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Einard and Mabel Kaarto; his brother-in-law,
Harry J. McDonald, his sister-in-law, Corinne Marie Kaarto Aho, his brother-in-law, Rudolph
Aho; and nephew C. Michael Aho.
In addition to being a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-
grandfather, Bruce was a faithful member of both St. Peter Lutheran Church in Sheboygan,
Wisconsin as well as Bethany Lutheran Church in Mohawk, Michigan.
There aren’t enough words to describe the impact that such a great man has had on those
around him. His wit, charm, intellect, and sense of humor were his greatest attributes, and to
know him was to love him. His loss will be felt by countless individuals from the tellers at his
local bank to his fraternity brothers at Sigma Rho. While we grieve the loss of Bruce, we
celebrate his uncanny sense of humor and his legacy of love, faith, and family.
Funeral services will be held at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 2104 Geele Avenue, Sheboygan,
Wisconsin on Sunday, December 19, 2021. Visitation begins at 3:00 pm followed by the funeral
service at 4:00 pm. Due to Covid requirements, masks and social distancing are required.
Those who would like to watch Bruce's service virtually can do so on the funeral home website
on Bruce's obituary page.
Bruce’s family thanks the staff of the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for their gentle
and compassionate care as well as Dr. Gurminder Dhillon and Dr. Michael Johnson for their
exemplary medical expertise.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bruce’s name can be made to Sharon S. Richardson Community
Hospice.
To leave an online condolence for the family please visit www.ballhornchapels.com
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