Peter N. Bertz

MADISON - Peter Bertz, age 68, of Middleton, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, at the Madison VA Hospice. 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, Wis., and Patrick and his wife, Lorinda (Rainsberger) of Sanford, N.C. He was born on April 19, 1952, in Marshfield, Wis., the son of John and Jane (Smith) Bertz, originally from Loyal, Wis. Peter graduated from Neillsville (Wis.) 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, collecting rare coins and stamps. He will be remembered most because of his witty personality, willingness to be festive and his duck dynasty beard. There will be a celebration of life ceremony in his honor, late spring in Loyal, Wis. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson West Funeral & Cremation Care 7435 University Ave. (608) 831-6761