Barry Berggren

Barry passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 11, 2022, at the age of 79. He was supported by family and near the love of his life Lisa, at Oakwood Assisted Living, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Barry was born in East Chicago, Indiana on January 5, 1943, to Jane and Alton Berggren. The young family lived in a diverse working-class neighborhood in East Chicago. It was a difficult time, especially when Alton had to leave to serve in the Navy during WWII.

Barry shared his father’s sense of humor and always enjoyed cracking a good joke and telling a good story. Barry was involved in Boy Scouts, attending Philmont Scout Ranch as a youth. He would go on to volunteer many hours with the Boy Scouts of America, supporting his sons’ scout journeys, and attending high adventure camping trips.

Barry was a graduate of John Adams High School in South Bend, Indiana, and later earned his chemical engineering degree from Valparaiso University.

Barry and Lisa met at a gas station while Barry was traveling in Sweden. Their first encounter was by chance, when Barry offered to help Lisa with her car. They corresponded by mail for many years and married in 1971. Shortly after getting married, they relocated to Bethune, France where they welcomed their first son, Stefan.

Barry’s work with Firestone Tire and Rubber Company later took the family to Rome, Italy where Marcus was born. Eventually, the family would move back to the United States, settling in Hartville, Ohio to raise their family. Barry remained at Bridgestone/Firestone for 36 years before retiring to Lake Mills, WI in 2001.

Barry and Lisa loved to travel and enjoyed the cuisine and wine that accompanied it. Their passports included entries for China, Portugal, Chile, Mexico, Croatia, and many other countries. They always made a stop in Lisa’s hometown in Småland, Sweden to visit with family and her home "Lyckebo". They shared their love of travel with Stefan and Marcus, camping in tents and the pop-up camper visiting many places including our National Parks. As their family grew to include grandchildren, they instilled a love of travel in them too with memorable extended family vacations.

Barry and Lisa also relished being grandparents! They took any opportunity to share stories and photos of their families’ achievements. Being near their eldest son Stefan in Madison, they were able to play a part in caregiving for their grandsons at a young age. They also made many trips to Colorado to visit Marcus and family, the most memorable being to meet their granddaughters shortly after their birth.

Barry will no doubt be missed by all who had the fortune of knowing him. His sense of humor, jokes and stories will not be forgotten.

Barry was proceeded in death by his parents, Jane Lillian Berggren and Alton Ralph Berggren. Barry is survived by his wife Emma-Inga-Lisa Berggren and two sons; Stefan (Emily) Berggren, Matias and Anders of Madison, WI; Marcus (Janessa) Berggren, Bailey and Linnea of Boulder, CO; sister Ellen (Richard) Varga and his nieces Tracy and Kelley.

In remembrance of Barry Berggren, and his over 20-year battle against Parkinson’s, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to:

The American Parkinson’s Disease Association - https:// www.apdaparkinson.org/donor-policy/

Memorial Services are pending and will be announced at a future time.

Cress Funeral Service--Sun Prairie

608-837-9054