Robert Benton Bergstrom

Robert Benton Bergstrom Sr. (Bob) died Sunday evening, January 21, 2018, in Sulphur, Louisiana. Bob was born March 9, 1927, in Lake Arthur, Louisiana. Bob lived in Carlyss with his mother Ester and sisters Martha Jane and Suna Lisa. He graduated from Sulphur High before joining the Army in 1944. When WWII ended, Bob returned home and met Marilyn Houser of Lake Charles. They were married June 30, 1947 and raised four children.

Bob worked at Cities Service as an operating engineer for 17 years and in the early 60’s was elected Business Agent for Local 407. In 1965, he was selected to be a Federal Mediator and was transferred to Cedar Rapids, Iowa Bob taught Labor Relations classes at the University of Iowa.

Bob built and remodeled his homes and he was an accomplished craftsman who made detailed wooden ship models from scratch. An avid reader he collected an impressive home library. Bob’s love of family and history fueled a passion for genealogy and the discovery of his half brother and sister, Glen and Gwen Elkins. .

In 1994, Bob and Marilyn returned to Louisiana. They lived in Lake Charles until Hurricane Rita destroyed their home in 2005. After Rita, they moved to St. Augustine, Florida to join their son and his family. Following a long illness, Marilyn passed in 2009.

Bob returned home to Sulphur, Louisiana in October 2017, residing at Stonebridge Place Assisted Living where he was recently selected ‘King of the Mardi Gras’.

Bob is survived by three daughters, Patricia Bergstrom, Carol Webb, Kathryn Bergstrom, ,a son, Robert (Deb) Bergstrom, Jr and four grandchildren, Amy (Bob), Sarah (Matt) , Eric (Cassidy) and Michael (Kacey) and  great-grand children, Ella, Tristan, Jonathon, Sidonia.

There will be a visitation at the Johnson and Robison Funeral Home in Sulphur, LA on Friday January 26, 2018 from 3 – 5pm.  Interment will be at a later date in St. Augustine, FL.  In lieu of flowers, Bob had a special place in his heart for The Arc of the St. Johns in St. Augustine, FL and Milestones Adult Day Health Center in Cedar Rapids, IA.