By Maria Foss | On Mission
GREEN BAY – Fr. John P. Bergstadt died on April 6, 2025 at the age of 83.
Fr. Bergstadt was born the only child of Walter and Anna Ruth (Bostedt) Bergstadt in Menominee, Michigan. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Grade School and graduated from Marinette Catholic Central High School in 1959.
He attended Sacred Heart Seminary, Oneida and earned a bachelor of arts degree from St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee in 1964.
Fr. Bergstadt was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 21, 1967, at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy, by Most Reverend Francis Reh, Rector of the North American College.
Following his ordination, Fr. Bergstadt continued his studies and earned a Licentiate of Sacred Theology from Gregorian University, Rome, in 1968.
Fr. Bergstadt’s first assignment was at St. Therese Parish, Appleton. In 1972, he was appointed associate pastor, then pastor, at Holy Cross Parish, Kaukauna. In 1979, he was appointed pastor at St. Bernard Parish, Green Bay where he served for 17 years. He served as pastor at St. Bernard Parish, Appleton from 1996 to 2005 when he was appointed pastor at St. John the Baptist Parish, Howard. He also served as a temporary administrator at St. Benedict Parish, Suamico, and St. Pius, Little Suamico, while continuing his role as pastor at St. John the Baptist.
In 2010, Fr. Bergstadt was appointed Regional Vicar of Vicariate II and served in this role until his retirement in 2019.
Fr. Bergstadt’s favorite scripture verse was: “I have come that you may have life and life most abundantly.”
For as long as he could remember, that promise of Our Lord had been eminently true. He felt he received far more than he could ever have imagined, and he was incredibly grateful to be called a priest, which was evident in the way he served.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 13, 2025 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2597 Glendale Ave, Green Bay, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. A concluding prayer service will be held at 6:45 p.m. Visitation will continue at the same location on Monday, April 14, from 9 to 11 a.m.
The funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 14, with Bishop David Ricken as celebrant and Fr. Scott Valentyn as homilist. Burial will follow at Forest Home Cemetery, Marinette.