(262) 653-0667
3016 75th Street, Kenosha, WI 53142
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-suffering 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 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 welcomer to customers of the store. I still have many people tell me about how much they enjoyed his loud greetings as they walked 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
www.caseyfamilyoptions.com
Mon - Fri: 8AM - 4PM
(262) 653-0667
3016 75th Street, Kenosha, WI 53142
Becky says:
I used to work at Morelli’s deli I remember Ray very well, with Blondie and Dagwood tagging along they were his sidekicks in life
And then came along Bonnie and Clyde. He was a super sweet guy and will be sadly missed
JEFFREY G DELABRE says:
One of the sweetest people I have ever known. Always joking around and laughing
Joe Cepress says:
My sympathy to Rays family.
I worked with Ray at jewel Osco. Alot of great people choose to work at Jewel and Ray was one of them. I always remember Ray stopping with his Labs when he wasn’t working for a visit. Thankyou for the well written obituary.
Dave Herrmann says:
Ray was a great guy and friend. I still miss the Sunday night poker games with Ray and his Mom and Dad. He will be missed.
JEFFREY G DELABRE says:
Ray Sr. And Aunt Marnie. Ray was my cousin. We were up there all the time.
JEFFREY G DELABRE says:
Sorry to hear about Little Rays passing. He was a very nice fun friendly funny cousin. I remember his dog Shotgun from Vietnam. Aunt Marnie. Uncle Ray. My family was always visiting Grandaman & Grampa Johnson. My mom’s parents. Aunt Marnies youngest sister Patricia Joyce Johnson Delabre. Pray your up there with OUR LORD. Hope to see you again soon Ray.
Tom Herrmann says:
Ray was a very great fellow, poker player and.softball player. I had the privilege of playing poker and softball with him . I went to many Brewer games with him. He will be missed .
Jason Bergquist says:
Ray you will be missed greatly as a Kenosha and Bergquist family legend and as my great uncle. I just saw you at Christmas with the endless one liner jokes you’d tell and only ray would use a fence post for a cane but that is Ray. The one thing everyone in Ray’s life has heard and loved was when Ray did his Donald duck voice impression every kid in our family loved it and I’ll never forget it. Ray also spoiled the kids at Christmas and was a fellow dog lover always asking about my dog and telling me about his dogs. Ray the millions of memories from my childhood at great Grandma Grandpa Bergquist house to Christmas at Carl and Anne’s I will always cherish and never forget the memories and times we shared.
Jennifer and maggie says:
I am rays neighbor when I would leave for school he would always brighten my day with a smile and hello little one.