Winstrom, Bertil Gustav
Publication Date: March 18, 2001
An Incredible Man - An Inspiring Life Born in Vastmanland,
Sweden on Feb. 9, 1904, he died March 13, 2001 in his
self-designed home on the Milwaukee River in Mequon, WI.
Although his mind was still capable and eager for much more, his body could no longer keep pace. Bertil began honing this mind as an engineering student in Sweden and so excelled that upon completion was offered a teaching post at the university. He chose instead to seek adventure and his future by sailing off to America in 1927. He soon found an American bride, Miss Beatrice Hilgendorf, who introduced him to a Swedish cultural organization:
The Vasa Order of America. In 1935 he became a naturalized American citizen and then spent the rest of his life preserving and promoting Swedish culture and fostering relationships between his old and new homelands. Bertil and Beatrice foster-parented many children before choosing two special children to permanently adopt and nurture, Allan and Margit Winstrom. As a coupon-clipping philanthropist, Mr. Winstrom had enormous concern for the less fortunate and contributed substantially to causes for the homeless, troubled children, land and environmental protection and college scholarships. Equal generosity to his family was exemplified by his steadfast devotion to his beloved wife and mother-in-law throughout their declining years. "Bert" was a living legend among his peers in the engineering world. For 25 years until mandatory retirement, he was chief engineer and manager of A.O. Smith Corporations Machine and Equipment Division. Innumerable patents and inventions, both at A.O. Smith and as President of his own engineering consulting firm (B.G. Winstrom & Assoc.), stand to his credit and attest to what many consider one of the most innovative engineering minds of his time. Retirement was an anathema to this man, and his work ethic even at age 97 was an inspiration to all. He designed his final invention on his deathbed - a device which allowed him to get up without assistance. This passionate drive to be useful and his constant admonition to "Now, just get going on it" produced a lifetime of acheivements and honors. He was most proud of the following honors: 1968 Royal Order of Vasa (An award of the Swedish Government), 1966-74 Two terms as Grand Master of Vasa Order of America, 1974 Swedish-American of the year, 1976 King's Gold Medal (Personally conferred on him by H.M. Carl XVI Gustaf). Arguably his greatest accomplishment was shepherding to fruition the Vasa National Archives Building in Bishop Hill, IL. Therein is housed unique genealogical data gathered from the records of the Vasa Lodges throughout the U.S.A. Hopefully, descendants of those first hearty Swedish immigrants will long appreciate the great vision, incalculable time and efforts this Swedish immigrant gave to help preserve this heritage. Bertil was predeceased by: Mother, Augusta Pihl; Father, Carl Winstrom; Brother, Tage Winstrom; Wife, Beatrice Winstrom; Son, Allan Winstrom; Mother-in-law, Doris Hilgendorf. He is survived by: Brother, Ingemar Winstrom; Daughter, Margit Winstrom-Riley, her husband William John Riley, and their three children, Britta, Shane and Timothy Riley; Daughter-in law, Pat Slezak and her four children, Todd Winstrom and Sue Lyth and their son, Nicholas; Carla Nordness, her husband, Dan Nordness, and their three children, Chad, Ryan and Tanya; Karen Schoen, her husband, Tim Schoen, and their son, Austin; Susan Pankow, her husband, Jeff Pankow and their son, David. This grand gentleman will be put to his welldeserved eternal rest on Thurs., March 22, 2001 at 11:00 AM at Schramka & Densow Funeral Home, Thiensville, WI. Visitation will be held Wed., March 21 from 4-8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vasa National Archives, Bertil G. Winstrom Fund, Bishop Hills, IL. Bertil Winstrom's greatest legacy to us all is the example of a life well lived.