Helen Bergkamp

Helen Bergkamp, 92, died Tuesday, August 20, 2019. Vigil Service will be at 7:00 pm, Friday, August 23, 2019; Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, August 24, 2019, both at Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church, 4910 N. Woodlawn, Bel Aire, KS 67220. Preceded in death by her husband, Bob; parents, Cornelius and Lena Gerber; brothers, Bishop Eugene Gerber and Jerome Gerber. Survived by her sons, Stan Bergkamp, Scott (Kathleen) Bergkamp; daughters, Linda (Dr. Joe) Davison of Wichita, KS, Kim (Randy) Jones of El Dorado, KS, Jacque (Bill) Nelson of Garden Plain, KS; 15 grandchildren; sisters, Kathleen (Wilfred) Panek of Garden Plain, KS, Leola (Paul) Hageman of Pratt, KS, Joan Gerber of Wichita; brother, Larry Gerber of Wichita. Helen lived her life as the consummate steward. Helen and Bob founded Bob Bergkamp Construction Co. 65 years ago doing soil conservation work for farmers around Cheney. Through hard work and prayer the company has grown to a large regional heavy civil grading firm, with the third generation in the business. She was a trailblazer in her own right, starting and running her own successful restaurant before she was married to Bob. She also had two patents, one of which was successfully sold in many national mail order catalogs and magazines. Many of those profits went to charitable organizations. In 1978 Helen and Bob moved to El Dorado to fulfill a 10-year volunteer commitment to open and run the St. Joseph Family Life Center which provided retreats, Marriage Encounters, and Engaged Encounters for the Diocese of Wichita. This was the model for the current Spiritual Life Center, which we now enjoy. After this commitment they moved to Wichita and opened the doors of their home to all who would come. Providing a bed and meals, with the same hospitality as they had shown while volunteering in El Dorado, to whomever came to visit. Most nights there was at least one extra person sharing their home. Helen called her brother, Bishop Gerber, and requested that he pursue bringing the Carmelite Sisters from India here after meeting them on a trip overseas. We are now immeasurably blessed to have them serve in our Diocese. She commissioned an artist to paint the icons of the Doctors of the Church. This is the only collection worldwide by the same artist. These are a treasure on display at the Spiritual Life Center. She had a love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a collection of over 200 statues. Her collection now resides in a museum in Fatima, Portugal. Numerous statues were purchased and placed in many churches in and around Wichita by Helen. She silently did this with no one knowing. Helen attended daily Mass, spent long hours in contemplative prayer and rarely strayed far from her blessed Rosary beads. She was the matriarch of her family of 5 children, 15 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. The last few years she provided that same love to all those she encountered at Catholic Care Center. Memorials have been established with: Priest Retirement and Education Fund, c/o Catholic Diocese of Wichita, 424 N. Broadway St., Wichita, KS 67202; Catholic Charities, 437 N. Topeka, Wichita, KS 67202. Downing & Lahey Mortuary - East Chapel.