Arthur Carl Bergren, 58, of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, died June 17, 2025, at the Mayo Hospital in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, after a fall and cardiac arrest resulting in severe brain damage. A Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, Rice Lake, Wisconsin. A Memorial Service of Thanksgiving to God for his life will be held on Friday, June 27, 2025 at 10:30 a.m., at Bethany Lutheran Church, Rice Lake, Wisconsin with a luncheon to follow at the church. The Burial will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at the Scandinavian Cemetery in Rockford, Illinois.

Arthur was born in Rockford, Illinois, on January 15, 1967. The oldest child to Lynn and Christine (Carlson) Bergren, where his mother welcomed him into the world by saying, “Hello baby!” While in grade school, he watched his parents rearrange their life in order for his father to attend and graduate from seminary to become a Pastor. This formed a lasting impression on Arthur’s faith. Arthur and his extended family enjoyed vacationing in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, where he was the third generation to do this. He learned the joys of fishing - especially for muskies - boating, supper clubs, and the love of God’s canopy of nature.

Arthur graduated from Sherrard High School, Sherrard, Illinois, in 1985. Later, he attended and was the third generation in his family to graduate from Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, in 1990. Arthur felt the call to ministry to serve while in college and decided to pursue a Masters of Divinity at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated in 1995. To enhance his preaching, Arthur went back to the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and received his Doctor of Ministry in Homiletics in 2007. Those who have heard him preach, were not only impressed with his sermons, but how he preached without notes!

Arthur received his first call in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as a Founding Pastor and Mission Developer at Christ Lutheran Church, Belvidere, Illinois (1995-1998). His second call was as an Assistant to the Bishop/Mission Developer in the Northern Illinois Synod (1998-2001) under the leadership of Bishop Gary Wollersheim, who was a mentor and good friend. Arthur’s third call brought him to Grace Lutheran Church, Woodstock, Illinois, as their Senior Pastor (2001-2006). The family then moved to Geneseo, Illinois, where Arthur served as Lead Pastor at First Lutheran Church (2006-2015). His next call was as Lead Pastor at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Racine, Wisconsin (2015-2016). Then off to Waverly, Iowa, as Lead Pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church & School (2016- 2021). Arthur’s last call was back in Wisconsin to serve as Lead Pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. He served there from 2021 until his untimely death. In August 2025, he would have celebrated 30 years of ordained ministry.

Arthur married Anne (Burswold) Calder and they later divorced. From this marriage came the great joy in having three children: Laura (28), Caroline (24), and Erik (22). He often included them in sermons and bragged about their accomplishments. Arthur was able to make it to all three college graduations including Erik’s graduation over this past Memorial Day weekend. He was a very proud Dad of all of his amazing and gifted children. The time they shared together was filled with much love and laughter.

Arthur and Jennifer Prinz met later in life. Both of them knew they had met the love of their lives, they were soulmates! They had many things in common: a strong faith, both PK’s (Pastor’s kids), a love of the Northwoods, fishing, boating, walking, traveling, Frank Lloyd Wright, cribbage – to name a few! It was also more than enough to just be in each other’s company. They supported one another’s ministry and all of its demands, without hesitation. They reflected God in all they did together. They were married on January 3, 2015, in front of family and friends. Their first act as husband and wife was to serve communion at their wedding; something that was very important and special to them. As their marriage vows stated, “in this life and into the next.” They will forever be together.

Arthur was a man with passion. He had a passion for preaching the good news of the Gospel, serving alongside God’s people, walking with people in need, leading, learning, meteorology, history, movies, and of course, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears. Arthur was a man of giving. He gave of himself fully in life through his ministry, and even in death, he leaves behind a lasting gift. Arthur left this world offering others a renewed chance at life through organ donation. Arthur and Jennifer often talked about organ donation. When we die, we do not need them, but someone else does. We hope Arthur’s organ donation will inspire others to do the same.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the Barron County dispatcher who assisted Jennifer in administering CPR to Arthur, EMTs, Marshfield Medical Center’s ER staff in Rice Lake, Mayo Hospital in Eau Claire (especially Arthur’s critical care nurse, Danielle), organ donor staff and their compassionate operating room team.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Christine Bergren (2020). Those left to honor his memory include his loving soulmate and wife, Jennifer Prinz; children, Laura Bergren, Caroline Bergren, and Erik Bergren; father, the Rev. Lynn Bergren; brother and sister-in-law, the Rev. Benjamin and Rachel Bergren; nephew, Carlson Bergren; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Kathryn Prinz and Ben Jankowski; sister-in-law Anne Prinz; cousins April and Jeff Bold and Ellen Bonner.

The Memorial Service will be livestreamed on Bethany Lutheran Church’s website at www.bethanyricelake.org. Rostered ministers are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is green. The family asks that in lieu of flowers and plants, please consider making memorial gifts to one of the following: Bethany Lutheran Church, Rice Lake, Wisconsin (bethanyricelake.org), ELCA World Hunger (elca.org), or Donate Life – organ donation (donatelife.net).

Last Update: Jun 20, 2025 7:17 am CDT