Donald Francis Bergman

Donald Francis Bergman, age 92, passed away in his home in Holland, Michigan on Saturday, August 12, 2023 surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Don was smart, funny, strong, athletic, and brave. He was an avid and adept competitor in sports, including wrestling, football, boxing, softball, canoe marathons, cross-country skiing, and sailboat racing. Don and his wife Jean were inducted into the Lake Michigan Sailing Hall of Fame in 2020. Don was a great fast-pitch softball pitcher who once pitched to Mickey Mantle, and he also pitched against Eddie Feigner (The King and His Court). Don brought his passion for physical fitness to work, where he pitched wellness programs along with other financial services in his career as an independent personal and commercial-lines insurance broker.

Together with his wife Jean, Don is survived by his children, Bill (Margaret) Bergman, Laura (Eric) Schulz, Donna (Jeremy) Baskin and Katherine Stuart; step-children, Elizabeth (George) Kelly, Steven (Patricia) Maher, David (Pam) Maher, Megan (Robert) Findlay, and James (Amy) Maher; 22 grandchildren who called him "Papa,” and his sister, Beata (Thomas) Boodell. Don was preceded in death by his son, Robert Bergman; brother, Richard Bergman; and step-grandchildren, Julie Findlay and James Findlay.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 29, 2023 at St. Francis de Sales, 195 W. 13th Street, Holland, Michigan.

The family requests that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to Hospice of Holland.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/grand-rapids-cremation for the Bergman family.