Robert Northcotte Berryman
Robert Northcotte Berryman – 8/2/44-7/1/23
On Saturday, July 1, 2023, the world lost one of the good guys. At age 78, Robert “Bob” Berryman passed away at home with his family by his side after a brief battle with lung cancer.
Bob was born on August 2, 1944, in Ishpeming, Michigan to Melville and Marjorie Berryman. He grew up in Marquette, Michigan and developed an early interest in cars as he helped his Dad at his Sinclair Service station as a child. In high school, he was a founding member of the car club called the Queen City Cams, eventually leading him into competitive drag racing and car shows with his 1964 Oldsmobile 442, “The Quiet One”. He graduated from Graveraet High School in 1962 and briefly attended Northern Michigan University. After marrying Ruth Heikkala in 1969, they lived in Green Bay, Wisconsin for 12 years before making their home in Fond du Lac, in 1981.
Bob valued family above all else and played an important role in supporting his siblings in their formative years. He loved “family night”, a Friday staple in the Berryman household that always involved food and fun, especially as the family grew over the years. He enjoyed trips to the Upper Peninsula to spend time with his siblings.
Bob was truly one of the kindest people you could know. He made his career in the mortgage loan industry, helping countless individuals and families get funding for their first homes. Bob retired in 2009 after 28 years with National Exchange Bank and Trust. He loved his job and helping people. In his pre-retirement years, it was hard for Bob to go anywhere in Fond du Lac without someone saying, “Hi Bob!” as his connections reached deep into the community. He spent decades as a dedicated member of the Evening Lions Club, serving in leadership roles and volunteering his time on service projects and fundraisers. He was an active member and past president of the Home Builders Association and served on numerous community boards. He was also a charter member of Ascension Lutheran Church.
Bob was a lifelong Detroit Tiger and Green Bay Packers fan, devoted through the winning and losing years. He was modest but loved reminiscing about throwing a no-hitter in Little League and his drag racing victories in his younger years. His history with Wheel of Fortune was as long as Pat Sajak’s, and as his health declined could be found watching anything and everything on the Game Show Network.
Bob dealt with multiple illnesses over the recent years, but he rarely complained. He was always “just fine” or “great” even in his last days. Though he became much more withdrawn as his health waned, the absence of his quiet, calm presence speaks loudly.
Bob is survived by his wife, Ruth Berryman, his children Tracy Mueller (James), Chad Berryman, and Terri Rosen (David), his siblings Richard Berryman (Andrea), Marica Dionne (David) and Lisa Barnum (Bryan), his grandchildren Kaitlyn Keizer (Jordan), Zachary Mueller (partner Joanna), Allison Berryman, Preston Berryman, Grayson Rosen, Gryffin Rosen, great-granddaughter Holland Keizer, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by
his parents, Melville and Marjorie Berryman, his sister Judith Carlson, and brother-in-law Ronald Carlson.
Bob’s family would like to express their deep gratitude to the hospice staff of SSM-Health, as they provided loving guidance, support, and care in his last weeks.
The visitation will be held on Saturday August 5, 2023, from 1:00 PM to 2:45 PM at Ascension Lutheran Church, 901 County Rd V, Fond du Lac. The funeral service will begin at 3:00 PM. A brief reception will follow the service.
Memorial donations may be made to the Fond du Lac Evening Lions Club in Bob’s memory and will be collected at the service.