Eugene Warren Bergklint

Eugene Warren Bergklint, 89, of Traverse City passed away on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at the Grand Traverse Pavilions surrounded by his family.

Eugene was born on Sunday, May 20, 1928 in Muskegon to Wilfred and Vesta (Moffitt) Bergklint. He attended Muskegon Heights High School and Michigan State University where he studied engineering. Eugene served his country as a member of the United States Naval Reserves.

He married Rebecca Payne on September 8, 1951 and together over the next several years had five children. As he developed his engineering career, he worked for several manufacturing companies in Michigan and Illinois. In 1967 Eugene moved his family to Traverse City where he founded Grand Traverse Crane Corporation, which he operated for 22 years. He enjoyed spending what little free time he had at the family cottage on Torch Lake. His favorite times were spent with his children and grandchildren, teaching gun safety while they target practiced, building models an small engines together, and playing games with them.

Eugene was a member of the Masonic Temple and served as a High Priest. He was a 40-year member of the Kiwanis Club and was a Golden K member. In those 40 years of membership he never missed a weekly meeting. He was a member of Central United Methodist Church in Traverse City for 49 years and was a head usher and was on the Board of Trustees.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years Rebecca (Payne) Bergklint; daughters Cindy Lahti, Dixie (Jim) Wolff and Heather Bergklint; son Tom Bergklint; brother Merritt (Helane) Bergklint; grandchildren Ryan (Katie) Wolff, Erin (Chris) Bach, Vesta Parks and Evan Parks; and great grandchild Hunter Wolff.

He was preceded in death by his parents Wilfred and Vesta (Moffitt) Bergklint and Ruth (Matthews) Bergklint; son Eric Bergklint; brother Allan Bergklint; grand child Pernielle Parks, son-in-law Jim Lahti; mother-in-law Beryl Payne and father-in-law Stanley Payne.

A visitation for Eugene will be held on Friday, June 2, 2017 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 1 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church. Pastor Dale Ostema will officiate services.

Those wishing an expression of sympathy are encouraged to direct contributions to Hospice of Michigan, 10850 East Traverse Highway, Suite 1155, Traverse City, MI, 49684 or the American Cancer Society, 129 S. Jefferson S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503.