Virginia C. Bertram

It is with sadness and some comfort that we announce the passing of our mom on June 16, 2025. We are sad that we have lost the matriarch of the Bertram Family after almost 80 years. Our comfort comes from realizing that she is no longer suffering and is again reunited with Elmer, who passed 25 years ago, and her siblings and friends who she missed dearly.

Virginia Catherine Bertram was born May 6, 1928. She was the third daughter and fifth child born to Clem and Rose (Karls) Stenz. Five more children followed and growing up during the depression was difficult. Mom often said the family was constantly on the move. They always farmed but never owned a farm until they moved back to Johnsburg in 1939. Before finding their farm, the family rented farms in Marytown, St. Anna and Chilton. Mom attended St. John the Baptist School from which she graduated in 1943.

Mom helped raise her younger siblings and worked on the farm until she met Elmer. On August 21, 1946, Virginia married Elmer J. Bertram at St. John the Baptist. They farmed with Elmer’s parents for a year and then started their own family. Virginia’s legacy will be that she was a stay-at-home mother who farmed at Elmer’s side and raised a family of four sons and two daughters. Her four sons all became farmers. Dan and Dave (the boys) still farm the homestead and her girls were true farmer’s daughters.

Mom and Dad were also “snowbirds” at a time when it was the thing to do. They spent over twenty winters at their home in Apollo Beach and were always busy with family and friends. They were especially close with Herb and Cedona Hass. Mom always said that there was more going on in Florida than if they would have been home.

When mom and dad retired from the farm and moved to Johnsburg she had a keen interest in making sure that the farm offices were neat and tidy. After dad passed and Elmwood (our cabin in the woods) was built, mom spent a lot of time making sure it was always welcoming for family and friends.

Ginny, as she was affectionately known, was a lifelong member of St. John the Baptist Altar and Rosary Society. She also was a member of the Malone Area Heritage Museum and Catholic Knights. Ginny volunteered for many years at the Villa Loretta where she eventually became a resident. The closing of the Villa prompted her to move to the St. Francis Home where she resided until her passing.

Virginia is survived by John (Janet) Bertram and their children, Michael (Linnea), (Cedona, Vincent, Lily), Mark (Amanda), (Brielle, Tucker, Aspen, Maizey, Paizley Virginia), Christine (special friend, Tyler Sell), and Thomas; Jim (Kathy) Bertram and their children, Terry (Aimie), (Ryan, Madison, Jeremiah), Tina (Dustin) Duehring, (Caden (special friend, Madelyn Danza), Cora, Cameron), Tim (Rachael Sclavi), (Dominic, Elijah, Sloan), Todd (Rebecca), (Isla, James); Diane (Buzz) Vermillion and their children, Robin (Tim) Dewar, (Sidney (fiancé, AJ Arndt), Sam, Simon), Brian “Bug” (April), (Ellison, Ava, Ivy), Katie (Dave) Kalmon, (Kaleesi, Maya), Jacob (Pam), (Hank); Karen (Jim) Buechel and their children, Kevin (Lori), (Renlee), Kelly, (Zach, Jake); Dan (Kim) Bertram and their children, Sarah (fiancé, Will Bock), Allison (fiancé, Trevor Agnew), Josh; Dave (Rachael) Bertram and their children, Kayla (Mitch) Freund, (Brooke, Cameron), Andrea (Jesse) Brannan, (David), Elizabeth, Erika (Nick) Pitts, Nate Olm. Ginny’s four sons call Johnsburg home and Diane lives near St. Peter and Karen is near Calumetville. Ginny is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Mary Jane (Bill) Murray; and sister-in-law, Alice Stenz; and 39 nieces and nephews.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; her parents, Clem and Rose Stenz; her in-laws, George and Rose Bertram; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Edwina and Ray Thome; her sisters, brothers, and their spouses, Rosebelle (George) Fryda, Elfrieda (Elmer) Steffes, Sylvester (Ione) (Pat) Stenz, Ervin Stenz, Melvin (Norma) Stenz, Norman (Joanne) Stenz, Leander (Grace) Stenz, and Anita Randall (Dave) Jones; several nephews and a niece have also passed.

Ginny’s family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the caregivers at the Villa and St. Francis Home. Thank you also to the hospice staff and volunteers for their compassionate care in her final days.

The visitation will be held Monday, June 23, 2025 from 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM at St. John the Baptist Church in Johnsburg. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3:00 PM on Monday at church. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery.

Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com