Ross E. Bergen

Ross Edward Bergen, 72, of Davenport, went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Davenport. Burial will be in the Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, with military honors. Visitation will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, with a prayer service offered at the conclusion. Additional visitation will take place from 9:30 a.m. until the start of Mass on Wednesday in the gathering space at St. Paul’s. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, the Salvation Army, or the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, Rossi Guest House Lodging Program.

Ross was born on April 27, 1953, in Norway, IA, the son of Harold Peter and Elverna Engle Bergen. His family later moved to Cedar Rapids. He enjoyed a happy childhood surrounded by the quiet beauty of rural Iowa. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa, where he participated in Army ROTC.

Ross had a distinguished military career with the U.S. Army, serving with the Military Police from 1976 to 1987 and retiring from active duty with the rank of Major. He continued his service with the Iowa National Guard, retiring in 2013 with the ceremonial rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His time in uniform was a source of pride and a defining chapter of his life. In 1992, Ross moved to Davenport to become the Director of Emergency Management for Scott County, a position he held until his retirement in 2015. His leadership, calm presence, and commitment to public safety left a lasting impact on the community he served, especially during the Great Flood of 1993.

Ross was an active member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. He was a member of the Conchologists of America and the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, reflecting his lifelong curiosity, appreciation for nature, and love of learning. Ross enjoyed wintering in Florida with his condo friends and enjoying rounds of golf, boating, shelling and sunsets.

Ross married Sheryl Diane Kopecky in August 1974 in Cedar Rapids. She preceded him in death in June 2014. Ross found renewed joy and companionship with MaryLinda Coward, whom he married on July 3, 2021, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. Together, they shared a marriage filled with love and many adventures traveling abroad and throughout the US.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, MaryLinda; children: Andy (Laura Hanna) Bergen, Cedar Rapids; Peter (Rachel) Bergen, Clive, IA; Adam Bergen, Davenport; Katie Bergen, Hiawatha, IA; stepson, Christopher (Kristen) Coward, Excelsior, MN; and grandchildren, Lily, Jack, Eva, Luka, Olivia, Piper, Aubrey, and Billie.

In addition to his wife, Sheryl, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Clara, and his parents.

The family wishes to thank St. Croix Hospice and Anita Zemba‑Schadt of Quad City Senior Solutions for their extraordinary compassion and the dignity, comfort, and peace they brought to Ross and his family in his final days