John Daniel Bergstrom

John D. Bergstrom of Duluth, MN, walked from this circle of life on March 14, 2022.  John was born to Theodore and Theodocia Bergstrom (yes, Ted and Teddy!) in Port Hueneme, CA, later moving to Minnesota. John met his future wife and partner, Nancy, at UMD. They graduated and were married in 1978. Together they established an alternative energy business, The Energy Shed, which later became Energy Plus, Inc. When the phone rang, John would enthusiastically jump up to get it while shouting “OPPORTUNITY!” and if the caller were to ask how he was, he would say “perfect.” His willingness to drop what he was doing to help a friend or a stranger who soon became a friend will be fondly remembered, whether it was pulling a vehicle out of a ditch, teaching hunting skills, how to frame a door, or rebuild a canoe.

 

John was a skilled craftsman executing his own design/build/remodel projects on homes, cabins and business buildings emphasizing sustainability and reuse of materials. He began that phase during his college summers when he designed and helped build the family cabin on Burntside Lake in Ely. John loved cross country skiing, designing and grooming Biskey Ponds and other local ski trails to perfection.  He also loved hunting with friends in South Dakota, hut-to-hut ski trips in Europe and motorcycling trips to Argentina with friends. He could also be found planting thousands of trees in local landscapes and heating gallons of soup at Empty Bowl fundraisers year after year. His legacy of cheerful optimism will last forever in our hearts, as will the sparkle in those baby blue eyes. His confident smile expressed the wonder and enthusiasm with which he greeted every day, and it would honor him for each of us to live life to the fullest. 

 

In lieu of flowers and cards, please consider honoring John by reducing your carbon footprint and/or donating to Rocky Mountain Institute, Chum Center Duluth MN, Duluth XC Ski Club, or Camp Du Nord, Ely MN. John will be loved and remembered by his wife and partner Nancy Hanson, siblings Carl Bergstrom, Bill (Bev) Bergstrom, Karen (David) Hewes, Ann (Matt) Lind, nieces and nephews Briana (Alex), Haley, Woody (North), Natalie (Gordy), Drew (Maddie), Jacob (Ashley), Nathan (Kara), Caitlin (Eli) and Bjorn, and great nieces and nephews Henry, Ella, Ada, Eddie, Lottie, Kedon and also many, many other wonderful people in his life, his in-laws, as well as the Energy Plus family, friends,

relatives, and neighbors.

 

John's father, Theodore, passed away in 2019, his mother, Theodocia, in 2020.

A special thank you goes out to certain friends and family (you know who you are!) and the staff at North Shore Estates and BeeHive Homes in Duluth.

There will be a small private gathering this summer with family and close friends.