William Joseph Bergin, age 82, of Brookville, Indiana went home to his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
Bill was born at home in the stone house in the Sand Bottom on September 16, 1941 in Brookville, Indiana. He was the oldest of three children born to the late Carl William ‘Bill’ & Naomi May ‘Gretchen’ (Foreman) Bergin. On August 22, 1970 he and the former Karen Beneker were united in marriage at Trinity Lutheran Church, Klemme’s Corner, IN.
Mr. Bergin was retired from the Franklin County Community School Corporation. Bill was an educator for more than 35 years serving as a librarian, a football coach and scout, and for most of his tenure a fifth-grade teacher at Brookville Elementary.
He was a man of devout faith. As a member of Trinity Lutheran Church he enjoyed his opportunity to serve as the sponsor of the Christian Gardeners Youth Group and his participation in Lutheran Brotherhood. He was a Board Member Emeritus of the Franklin County WATCH Council and served many years as a coach for Franklin County Special Olympics; he was a Franklin County Right to Life Member; and a brother in Delta Chi Fraternity at Ball State Teacher’s College.
Bill loved singing, getting just the right scald on his Kansas City Steak Soup, working any and all word puzzles – especially the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Sunday edition, watching Larry Bird’s Celtics and his mighty Cincinnati Bengals. He could often be found at the kitchen table or in his wheelchair turning the pages of a mystery novel or cookbook as he was an avid and lifelong reader. And if you ask Pierce or Caroline, he was the best Monopoly banker a grandkid could ever have.
Survivors include his wife of over 53 years, Karen Bergin of Brookville; two sons, Brendan (Julie) Bergin of Louisville, Kentucky and Michael Bergin of Brookville, Indiana; two grandchildren, Pierce and Caroline Bergin; a brother Mark (Faye) Bergin of Brookville; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Naomi, his sister, Lora Volz; as well as his father and mother-in-law, Ray & Helen Beneker, and his brother-in-law Roger Beneker.
Family & friends may visit from 3 until 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at Phillips & Meyers Funeral Home, 1025 Franklin Avenue, Brookville, IN.
Rev. Ladona Webb will officiate the Funeral Service at 11:00 A.M., Monday, April 22, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 4025 Highland Center Road, with burial following in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Klemmes Corner, IN.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the WATCH Center Council Inc.
The staff of Phillips & Meyers Funeral Home are honored to serve the Bergin family, to sign the online guest book or send personal condolences please visit www.phillipsandmeyers.com.