La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

Thomas Ray Bergem died peacefully on Sunday, July 26, with his family by his side.

Tom was born in Mount Vernon on December 21, 1944 to Albert and Florance Bergem. He went to school in La Conner and graduated from La Conner High School in 1963.

In 1966, Tom met Paulette Klaus, whom he would marry a year later on July 29, 1967. In 1968, they welcomed their son Jim into the world, and in 1971, their daughter Shelley was born.

He spent many years of his life working on outboard boat motors, hunting, fishing and being on the water. In 1973, he realized a life-long dream of owning his own business, when he and Jerry Thomas opened Tom & Jerry’s Skagit Marine. Tom was the head mechanic for 20 years and received many awards, including the Evinrude Master Technician award.

Family was the most important aspect of Tom’s life, and nothing gave him more joy than being with his grandchildren Justin and Kindsey Youngquist. As a very honest, caring and generous person, he believed in treating people the way he wanted to be treated and in 2008 became a member of the Church of Christ in Mount Vernon.

Tom is survived by his wife Paulette; his son Jim and his longtime girlfriend Kristy Joslin; his daughter Shelley and her husband John Youngquist; grandchildren Justin and Kindsey Youngquist and Zak Joslin; his sister Janna Gage, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jimmy, and sister Sally Everhart.

The family would especially like to thank the nursing staff at Mira Vista for their care and support as well as Dr. William Lombard.