Richard O. Bergeson Jr.

Richard Orrin “Rich” Bergeson Jr, age 67, of Sycamore, passed away Saturday, June 17, 2023 at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago surrounded by his loving family.

He was born April 7, 1956, at Sherman Hospital in Elgin, the son of Richard and Betty (Engstrom) Bergeson of St. Charles.

Rich’s nickname was "Cheech" to many relatives growing up. Rich loved football and played center during middle school and high school. Rich played in a band with friends when he was younger. He loved putting on carnivals with the neighbor kids. After high school Rich got his associate degree at Elgin Community College and then continued on at Northern Illinois University and received his marketing degree. Rich married his high school sweetheart Maureen Zak on August 5, 1978. In fact, this year would have been their 45th wedding anniversary. Maureen and Rich have three children, Christopher, Daniel and Colleen and they loved going up to St. Germaine Wisconsin every summer fishing, boating, playing on the beach, building sand castles, etc.  It was a great family vacation to get away and relax unless Rich was undoing tangled fishing lines, lol.

Rich was one heck of a salesman. Every job he worked for he always tapped out as top salesman. He loved sales. While he was working full-time in sales he also partnered up and bought an engine business that was called Factory Engine Service because he had such a passion for cars. In his teenage years you could always find Rich and his brother John working on their cars.  John had a Camaro, Rich had a Nova, and Maureen had a 1968 396 Camaro that she beat Rich drag racing, lol.  Those 3 had some very fun years together hanging out. Rich loved music.  A song could come on and Rich knew all the words to every song back in the day.

Rich was an avid White Sox fan and Bears fan, and he had the gift of writing poems for every occasion to Maureen.  Rich was a baseball coach for CJ and Danny's baseball team for many years and you could find him and Maureen every weekend during Colleen’s volleyball season cheering her on.  He loved his kids so very much and was so proud of all of them.  And as adult children he had a special relationship with each one in his own way.  Rich loved the game of golf when there was time.  When they moved out to Sycamore there was a pond overlooking their backyard and he loved fishing out there.

Rich overcame many health obstacles over the years, we would call him a cat with nine lives.  When Rich was recovering from sepsis years ago, he taught their bulldog Choochie to say num num for treats.  Rich had taught their Great Dane that when he was growing up and he was so proud.  The kids and grandkids would get such a kick out of hearing her say num num.  He certainly was a fighter.  Rich was a grandpa to ten grandchildren who he adored and loved so much, they brought so much joy to him. Rich enjoyed many of his days in the last few years in his man cave playing the drums and guitar, listening to his music, putzing with his many projects, and still loved working on his car.  He enjoyed their backyard that they worked so hard on in the earlier years.  Rich will be missed by many.

Rich is survived by his beautiful wife Maureen of almost 45 years, his three beautiful children Christopher of St. Charles, Daniel (Stacy) of St. Charles, and Colleen (Kevin) of Maple Park; ten fabulous grandchildren Mady, Izzy, Alex, Klara, Zakary, Cameron, James, Kaylani, Jade, and Cobayne; brother John (Debbie); brothers-in-law Mike (Diane), Pat (Stevie), Tim (Anita), Pete (Kim), and Wags; sisters-in-law Kathleen (John) and Eileen (Jeff); many dear nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Betty Bergeson, brother Scott, mother and father-in-law Al and Margaret Zak, sisters-in-law Diane Zak and Laurie Zak, brother-in-law Chris Zak; and many aunts and uncles.

A visitation will be held Saturday, June 24, 2023 from 10:00 am until the time of his funeral service at 1:00 pm at Malone Funeral Home, 324 E. State Street (Route 38), Geneva. 

Burial will follow at West Batavia Cemetery in Batavia.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Anderson Animal Shelter, 1000 S. La Fox Road, South Elgin, Illinois 60177 and to Lurie’s Children’s Hospital https://www.luriechildrens.org/ would be appreciated.

For information 630-232-8233 or www.malonefh.com.

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