Cleabert “Bert” Frank Bridgeman, 86

Published 2:05 pm Monday, June 16, 2025

Cleabert “Bert” Frank Bridgeman, 86

Cleabert “Bert” Frank Bridgeman, age 86, of St. Ansgar, Iowa formerly of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage, Iowa. He was born on February 5, 1939, in Austin, Minnesota to Victor and Blanche (Rud) Bridgeman. He graduated from Austin High School in 1958 and went on to join the United States Army. Following his honorable discharge in 1962, Bert began his lifelong career with IBM and typewriters. In 1990, he moved to owning his own business called South Central Business Machines fixing typewriters and copiers, which he owned and operated into his late 70s, retiring in 2018. On April 7, 1960, he married Karen Kingen in Austin, Minnesota. Bert was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Lyle, Minnesota. In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time at the family cabin in Longville, Minnesota. Bert was very good at building and fixing things for his home and cabin. He enjoyed gun shows and car & tractor shows, always trying to learn more about guns, tractors, and cars. As a younger man, Bert very much enjoyed earning his private pilot license, and racing vintage shifter karts which he did into his early 70s.

Bert is survived by his wife, Karen Bridgeman in Champlin, Minnesota; children, Katherine (Ralph Thomas) Bridgeman of Big Lake, Minnesota, Susan (John Merckling) Crawford of Osseo, Minnesota; Todd Bridgeman of Faribault, Minnesota, and Keith (Brenda) Bridgeman of Farmington, Minnesota; grandchildren, Ana Crawford, Ella Crawford, Samuel Bridgeman , Sadie Bridgeman, and Stella Bridgeman; and John (Beverly) Bridgeman of Austin, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Blanche Bridgeman; and his siblings, Virgil Bridgeman, Joan (Leo) Fossey, and Joyce (Kenneth) Hays.

Bert’s celebration of life will be held from 2:00-5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at Worlein-Hoff Funeral Home in Austin, Minnesota. Interment will be in Oakland Lutheran Cemetery, in rural Oakland, Minnesota. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.