Obituary of Alfons Bertig

Alfons Bertig, age 90, of McKean Twp., passed away at his residence peacefully on Tuesday, August 23, 2016. He was born on July 22, 1926 in Helmbach, Czechoslovakia, son of the late Franz and Marie Hany Peterlik. Alfons ran the family farm at age 13 after his father passed away. At age 16, he was drafted into the service during WWII. Alfons shared many stories of his experiences as a POW in France, where he learned building skills to redevelop the wartorn cities. His family lost everything and were forced out of the Sudetenland after the war. Despite the risks, Alfons returned several times, helping hundreds of people escape communism using the Bohemian forest trails he knew so well. He moved to Wiesloch, Germany where he met and married his wife of 62 years. He began a career in lithography/graphic arts. Alfons, his wife Gudrun, and their two eldest children, immigrated to the US on a ship to the shores of Hoboken, NJ in the Spring of 1961.Alfons purchased the present family farm in McKean Twp. in 1963. He continued his graphic artist career with Pittsburgh Erie Color Plate and then continued his career in Dayton, OH and the greater Cincinnati, OH area until his retirement. His distinguished career led to advertising with national consumer products such as Procter & Gamble and American Greeting cards. The family then moved back to the beloved family farm. He enjoyed farming, building, tree felling, woodworking, playing chess and pool, telling jokes and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Gudrun Filsinger Bertig, four daughters: Ingrid Plathner of Edinboro, Carolyn Coleman of Edinboro, Annette Wheeler of Fairview, Tanya Saxon and husband Jackson of WilkesBarre, PA, two sons; Mark Bertig of Fairview, Aaron Bertig (Kimberly) of McKean, eight grandchildren: Inga, Stephanie, Justin, Caitlyn, Derek, Marco, Olivia, Tyler, one greatgrandson Colton, one sister, Maria Peterlik of Heidelberg, Germany, two sistersinlaw, Alice and Elsbeth Peterlik of Wiesloch, Germany, nephew, Arnd Peterlik of Hockenheim, Germany, He was preceded in death by one son, Gerd Bertig, two brothers, Franz and Paul Peterlik, and nephew, Ralf Kiefer. Friends may call at the DusckasMartin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Sunday, August 28, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. until the memorial service at 4:00 p.m. A social gathering will take place following the service at Perry Highway Hose Co. 8281 Oliver Rd., Erie, PA 16509. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of the funeral home where they will disperse funds to charitable foundations dear to Alfons’ heart.