Carolyn Wendy Bertram

Carolyn Wendy (Kaarto) Bertram, 82, who lived in Kohler, Wisconsin, died on July 27, 2023. She was born on November 5, 1940, in Hancock, Michigan to Mabel and Einard Kaarto.  Even though they named her Carolyn, she went by Wendy.  She was baptized at the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hancock, Michigan on January 19, 1941, and was confirmed at the same church on April 1, 1955. Wendy went to Hancock Central High School in Hancock, Michigan and graduated on June 3, 1958. She attended Highland Park General Hospital School of Nursing in Highland Park, Michigan and graduated on September 7, 1961. She met her future husband, Bruce Marshall Bertram, in Detroit, Michigan, and they were married on August 19, 1961, at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Hancock, Michigan. Bruce and Wendy celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on August 19, 2021. Bruce’s job took her to many foreign and domestic places, one of them being Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, and to many different states, such as Avery Island, Louisiana and Alexandria, Virginia. Bruce and Wendy raised 3 children.

She is survived by her daughter, Jayne (Randy) Ries of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; son, Erik (Maria) Bertram of Tomball, Texas; and daughter Julie Mims of Winder, Georgia. She leaves behind seven grandchildren: Abby (Chris) Helminiak of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Kate (Tony) Knapton of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Emmett Bertram of San Antonio, Texas; Alaina Bertram of St. Louis, MO; Wendy Ann Mims of Macon, Georgia; and Parker and Nolan Bertram, of Tomball, Texas. Additionally, she is survived by her six great-grandchildren: Sloane, Miles, and Hadley Helminiak and Josephine, Bennett, and Ames Knapton; and sister-in-law Carole McDonald of Eagle River, Alaska. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bruce Marshall Bertram; her parents, Einard and Mabel Kaarto; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clarence and Borghild Bertram; her sister, Corinne Marie Kaarto Aho; her brother-in-law, Rudolph Aho; and nephew C. Michael Aho.

In addition to being a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Wendy was a devout Christian who lived her life as a devout Christian, feeding the hungry and making quilts.  She was a faithful member of both St. Peter Lutheran Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin as well as Bethany Lutheran Church in Mohawk, Michigan. She and Bruce spent every summer at “the Camp” on Lake Superior in Cedar Bay, Michigan and she leaves behind many close friends in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Her family would like to thank Amanda L., CNA, and Amanda C., RN, of Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for the exceptional care and loving kindness they provided to Wendy while she was in home hospice care.

Visitation will be held at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 10:00 am with the service immediately following at 11:00 am. The burial will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 10:30 am EST at Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Wendy’s name can be made to The ALS Association, Wisconsin chapter or Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice.