William Preston Bergen

WILLIAM (“Bill”) PRESTON BERGEN – Reidsville, NC.

It is with heavy hearts we announce that Bill Bergen transitioned to his heavenly home on May 11, 2024. Bill was a beloved father, husband, and grandfather, and he led a full life filled with family, friends, energy, enthusiasm, and most importantly, love.  
 
He was born in Belle Mead, NJ on September 6, 1930, to the late John Van Dyke Bergen and Blanche Mertz Bergen. He grew up on Maple Lane Farm with his parents and six siblings. His father operated the family dairy farm and his mother was a school principal. Bill, the youngest of seven, enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he became the pitcher for the Navy baseball, and later, fast-pitch softball teams. With his outgoing personality and energy, he became an accomplished salesman for Encyclopedia Britannica across the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio. He relocated with family to Reidsville, North Carolina in 1978 to work for Lowe’s Home Improvement and assisted with new store openings across the Triad. The people of Reidsville, NC embraced Bill and his family and they all thrived there. He and Audrey made many dear lifelong friends who they see frequently.
 
Bill was a splendid cook, an accomplished golfer (until age 92), an avid fisherman, an enthusiastic vegetable gardener, and a sharp dresser with a warm smile. He is remembered for unabashedly singing while cooking legendary big breakfasts on weekend mornings for family and friends. Each year he grew an incredible variety of vegetables that enriched the family meals all summer. He enjoyed trips to the beach with family and had an uncanny ability to find fossilized shark’s teeth. In his later years, he could be seen driving his golfcart to Pennrose Park County Club, where he was a regular golfer with an expansive group of friends. What mattered most was his family, and Bill was incredibly proud of his children and grandchildren, to whom he was known as “Pop-Pop.” For over 20 years, Wednesdays were his most anticipated day of the week as it was dedicated to his grandchildren and many adventures with Nona and Pop-Pop.
 
Bill is survived by his loving and faithful wife of 64 years, Audrey Nuss Bergen; four children, Preston Bergen (Sheri Bergen) of Raleigh, Douglas Bergen of Chapel Hill, David Bergen (Jeanine Falcon) of Greensboro, and Krista Bergen Pope (Sean Pope) of Graham; and six grandchildren, William Bergen, Hannah Bergen, Lillie Claire Bergen, Madelyn Pope, Lily Pope, and Miles Pope. His six siblings preceded him in death: Carl Bergen, Evelyn Sutphen, Helen Kindred, John Bergen, Blanche Stires, and Madelyn Belliveau.
 
A private celebration of his life will be held by immediate family at Topsail Island.
 
The family wishes to especially thank all his kind and thoughtful caregivers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Woodmont United Methodist Church in Reidsville (specifically Woodmont’s Monday Night Live Dinner fund which provides free community meals) https://www.woodmontumc.org/give, 1926 Richardson Drive, Reidsville, NC 27320.