George E. Bergquist's Obituary
Bergquist, George E. (Lt.Col. Ret.) – Age 89, Gainesville, FL, passed away on November 22, 2018. Born on May 18th, 1929 and raised in Jamestown, NY, George graduated from Jamestown High School. He attended Denison University in Granville, OH for two years prior to enlisting in the Air Force in 1951. He was subsequently accepted into Aviation Cadets and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1953. He married his high school sweetheart, Janet Wiquist, later that year
During his 27-year Air Force career, George piloted numerous aircraft including the T-28, T-33, F-94B, C-47, T-39, and several variants of the F-89 (C/D/F/J). His duty assignments crisscrossed the country that included tours at Kinross AFB, Ladd AFB (flying for the Air Defense Command), Otis AFB, Warner Robbins AFB, Norton AFB, and McClellan AFB. In 1967 and 1968, George was deployed to Clark AFB in the Philippines and to South Vietnam. In Vietnam, he was stationed at Phan Rang Airbase flying nighttime missions in the B-57B Cambera. During his military career, George graduated from the USAF Electronics School at Keesler AFB, attended the University of Nebraska-Omaha earning a General Education degree, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. George retired from Eglin AFB in 1977 and moved to Gainesville in 1996 to be closer to his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren.
George was an accomplished golfer with a handicap in the single digits. He was a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program where he drove cancer patients to and from their treatments. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Ann B. and Kevin J. Shortelle (Gainesville, FL), and granddaughters Janet Shortelle Zarling (Dallas TX) Jennifer Shortelle (Philadelphia PA).
Interment with Military Honors at Barrancas National Cemetery, US Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL, will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, or Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90 Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32606.
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