Edward G. Bertram

Edward Gardus Bertram was born November 21, 1935, in India, to missionary parents, the third sibling of nine. He lived in India the first 12 years of his life and then chose to remain in the USA with two older brothers. He lived with foster parents in Ft. Dodge, Iowa, and attended Concordia High School and Junior College in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Ed’s foster parents taught him this motto, “Good, better, best … never let it rest … until your good is better and your better best.”

As a child, his hopes were to be a missionary. After graduating from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, his call was to be a missionary in Taiwan. During his 12 years in Taiwan, he pastored a mission church for retired military in the mountains, helped plan and establish Concordia Middle School (junior and senior high school), taught at the Seminary in Chiayi, and was chairman of the Missionary Conference. He was very fluent in Mandarin Chinese. One of the goals of Pastor Bertram was to work his way out of a job. When he completed his mission ministry in Taiwan, all his responsibilities were handed over to the Taiwan Nationals.

Edward and his family returned to the USA in 1973. With the encouragement of his mother and coworker Robert Zimmer, his new ministry was fund raising/development for Lutheran organizations. His first position was Director of Development (He asked, “What’s that?”) for the Lutheran High School Association in Milwaukee, WI. Next, he was President of Lutheran Church Charities based in the greater Chicago area. He then became President of a giftware company and returned to the church ministry as assistant pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Roselle, IL. He also established his own fundraising consulting companies (Aaron Associates and Bertram Associates) and an import/export consulting company. His mission always was to help others (family, friends, associates, co-workers, etc.) reach their potential capabilities.

Ed was blessed by God with many organizational skills. Among them, he participated in establishing the Association of Lutheran Development Executives (ALDE) and was its first President. Over the years, ALDE has broadened its constituents and is now known as Association of Christian Fundraising (ACF). Charitable giving was a very important aspect of his life. As a leader, he helped congregations and schools throughout the country to raise funds. Ed’s unique system and special ability to collate numbers helped those who sought his expertise to set feasible goals.

His last years of fund raising, Ed was called by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod to raise funds for endowments for the Concordia University system. After completing this campaign, he later oversaw a campaign for Synodical Missions.

Raising orchids, studying and investing in stocks, exploring roads, socializing with strangers, and trimming trees were his hobbies. He thoroughly enjoyed his frequent travels to many USA states and foreign countries.

Edward died December 20, 2024, and is mourned by his wife Marilyn of 66 years, children Charissa (Brett) Oleskow, Alethea Gaston, Rev Anthony (Deb) Bertram, Dr Martin (Holly) Bertram, Richard (Sherri) Bertram, 13 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and many coworkers and friends.

The memorial service for Pastor Bertram will be Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 11:00 am at St. John Lutheran Church followed by a luncheon across the street in the school building.

St. John Lutheran Church

1100 S Linneman Rd

Mt Prospect, IL 60056

To God be the glory.