I am sad to announce the death of my younger brother, Ray L. Bergquist. Ray passed away unexpectedly on February 17th, 2026, in the family home.
Ray was born in Chicago in 1945 while our dad was in the Navy and stationed near Wrigley Field, which is why he became a lifelong Cubs fan. Dad was soon transferred to Kenosha, American Motors was making jeeps for the Navy, and we lived in the Bonnie Hame housing project. After the war, my dad got a job at Abbott Labs, bought a home on 74th Street, and Ray lived there until last Tuesday. Ray was never married.
Ray was preceded in death by his father, Raymond L. Berquist, and his mother. Marguerite Johnson. He is survived by his oldest brother, Larry L. Bergquist of Clearwater, Florida, and his older brother, Carl E. Bergquist of Kenosha.
He was educated in Kenosha. Southport Elementary, Lincoln Junior High, and Bradford. His first job was a Kenosha Evening News paperboy back when the Kenosha News was a real newspaper. After high school, he became a longshoreman for a few years before being drafted into the Army. He ended up serving a two-year tour of duty in Vietnam. I think the Kenosha Harbor was closed when he returned from the Army, so he eventually took a job at Jewel Osco and became the unofficial welcome person to customers of the store. I still have many people tell me about how much they enjoyed his loud greetings as they walked through the parking lot. After Jewel closed, he worked as a caretaker at a cemetery for many years in Racine.
He loved to travel. South America, Africa, and northern Europe. He loved Las Vegas. He and a group of buddies would go to Vegas often, sometimes more than once a year. Every time he came back, he would tell me how much he won and then go out and get in his same old rusty car. He is well known for driving around with his two Labs. Blondie and Dagwood for many years, and then Bonnie and Clyde. He would visit most of the dog parks within driving range. Kenosha will miss a friendly voice.
Services for Ray will be held at Kemper Center Founder’s Hall (6501 3rd Ave) on Wednesday, March 11th at 1 P.M. A public visitation will also be held at Kemper Center from 11 A.M. until the time of the service on the same day. Private inurnment at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, WI, will be held at a later date.
Casey Family Options Funerals & Cremations
3016 75th Street, Kenosha, WI 53142
262-653-0667
