Peter Bertz

Peter Bertz, 68, Middleton, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, at the Madison VA Hospice. There will be a celebration of life ceremony in his honor in late spring in Loyal.

He was born on April 19, 1952, in Marshfield, the son of John and Jane (nee Smith) Bertz, originally from Loyal. Peter graduated from Neillsville High School in 1969 and attended UW-Madison for a short period of time. Peter was a talented musician (piano) at a very young age and wrote several excellent piano sheet music songs that are posted on YouTube. In his youth he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was an accomplished linguist (German and Russian), graduating from the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey, Calif., in both languages. He was stationed in Germany several times while on active duty Army and, after getting out of the military, lived there for many years working in the host nation. Peter was a private person who had many hobbies to include playing pool, solving crossword puzzles, and collecting rare coins and stamps. He will be remembered most because of his witty personality, willingness to be festive, and his “Duck Dynasty” beard.

He is survived by his sister, Lauren, and her husband, Mike Thommen of Forest Lawn, Md.; and his brothers: Paul and his wife, Phoebe (Lewis) of Fredericksburg, Va., Phillip and his wife, Linda (Gill) of Marshfield, and Patrick and his wife, Lorinda (Rainsberger) of Sanford, N.C.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

PAID OBITUARY 99569