Eggert, Bertha 'Bert'

Bertha “Bert” Eggert, a lifetime resident of Springville, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, at the age of 96 at Rush-Copley Memorial Hospital in Aurora, Ill.

 Bertha Genia Reed was born on the family farm by midwife on Sept. 14, 1913, to Eugene and Julia (Paul) Reed. During her early years, Bertha would travel to Springville schools with her sisters, Jane and Augusta, in a horse-drawn wagon. If you wanted to reach the Reed family on the Springville party line, all you would have to do is turn one long, one short and two long cranks on the telephone box. Bertha was part of the 1931 Springville High School graduating class and looked forward each year to the alumni banquet. After high school, Bertha obtained her rural school teaching certificate and taught in Bennett, Stone City, Keystone, and Marion, Iowa. After World War II, Bertha married her sweetheart, William Allen “Homy” Eggert, on Nov. 18, 1945, in Springville. Together they purchased the 120-acre Reed family farm, where they raised their two sons, Paul and Mark. In 1964, she returned to teaching as a substitute in Springville. Then, in 1966, she took a full-time position in the Alburnett school system. In 1973, she returned to college and earned her undergraduate degree in education from Mount Mercy. In 1977, she was named Alburnett Schools Teacher of the Year. Bertha retired from teaching in 1981 but continued to volunteer at the Springville elementary school. 

Bertha gardened well into her 80s and enjoyed canning beets, corn, beans, etc. She was also known for her homemade cookies, angel food cake and pies. She was able to pass on some of her canning, cooking and baking talents to her granddaughters.   Bertha learned to play the saxophone at an early age and continued playing over the years. At the age of 94, using the saxophone that she had since she was a young girl, Bertha played with the community band in Springville and also in Whittier. Her saxophone was among her prized possessions.

Bertha is survived by her sons, Paul (Giuliana) Eggert of Aurora, Ill., and Mark Eggert of Kewaskum, Wis.; her sisters-in-law, Elaine Eggert of Tipton, Iowa and Lois “Bea” Berodt of Silver Springs, Md.; as well as a nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family in California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland and Virginia.

Bertha will be dearly remembered by her grandchildren, Jennifer (Shane) Leytem of Mechanicsville, Iowa, Erin Edenfield of Springville Iowa, Julia (Mick) Miller of Montgomery, Ill., and William Eggert of Iowa City, Iowa.

Bertha's life and times will be fondly recounted to her great-grandchildren, Ciara, Taylor and Alexa of Springville, Iowa; Devin and Prestin of Mechanicsville, Iowa; and Bailey and Danika of Montgomery, Ill. 

Bertha was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, William Allen “Homy” Eggert; her parents, Eugene and Julia (Paul) Reed; her sister, Jane Webster and husband Charles; her sister, Augusta Mattingly and husband Charon; her sister, Pauline Reed, who died in infancy; and her nephew, Gene Mattingly. 

Bertha was a lifetime member of the Springville United Methodist Church congregation and also a member of the Rebekah Lodge, American Legion Auxiliary and the Whittier Garden Club. She was also active at Whittier Community Building events.

Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 12, at Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Marion from 5 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday at the Springville United Methodist Church at 10 a.m.   Bertha will be laid to rest next to her husband at the Springville Community Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Springville United Methodist Church or the Whittier Community Building Fund.