Phylis “Penny” Bergman

Phylis Amy “Penny” Bergman, age 86 of Hudson, formerly of West Des Moines, IA, passed away peacefully October 14, 2017 at the Christian Community Home in Hudson.

Penny was born September 26, 1931 in Rochester, NY. She grew up the Rochester and Niagara Falls area and attended the University of Minnesota where she earned a teaching degree. While in college she met the love of her life, Lawrence “Larry” Bergman. The couple were married after Larry returned from his service in the U.S. Army. They made their home in Roseville, MN and were blessed with a son, Mark. In 1965, the family moved to West Des Moines where Penny worked for the Des Moines Public Schools as a kindergarten and first grade teacher at Moulton and Hubbell Elementary Schools, retiring in 1995.

In retirement, Penny assisted her husband as he showed long haired Dachshunds all over the U.S. and Canada. She enjoyed fundraising for the Des Moines Kennel Club and Central Iowa Dachshund Club. The couple joined the Lutheran Church of Hope in 1993. Penny cherished the time she spent with her family, and loved to bake delicious Christmas cookies and other desserts to share with them. After her husband’s death in 2015, Penny relocated to Hudson, WI to be closer to her family.

Penny is survived by her son, Mark (Debbie) Bergman; grandchildren, Tonya, Wally (Jennifer), Mike, and Chris; great-grandchildren, Leslie, Ethan, Gracie, Aurora, Lanie, and Mickey; nieces and nephews, Todd (Margaret) Minea, Lauren (Darrell) Hensley, and Mike (Michele) Minea. She is preceded in death by her husband, Larry; her parents, and sister, Gail Minea.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2017 at the Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines, IA. Private interment Resthaven Cemetery, West Des Moines, IA. Memorial contributions may be made to Lutheran Church of Hope in Penny’s memory.