Virgil E. "Bud" Bertke, 76, 2120 Jefferson St., Maria Stein, died at 7:27 p.m. Feb. 1, 2008, at Heritage Manor Nursing Center, Minster.

He was born June 22, 1931, in Maria Stein to Ado and Justine Bruns Bertke. On May 11, 1957, he married H. June Hixson, who survives.

Other survivors are four sons, Rick of Brandon, Fla., Paul (Angie), Kettering, Dale (Sandy), St. Henry, and Jim (Annette), New Bremen; three daughters, Sue (Dennis) Mueller and Nancy, all of Centerville, and Karen (Kent) Shaner, Maria Stein; a sister, Martha Lou Siegrist, Beavercreek; and 15 grandchildren.

He was a retired mason from Bernard Masonry, Maria Stein. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean conflict serving in Germany, and a member of St. John the Baptist Church, Maria Stein, and its men's sodality. He also was a member of the Knights of St. John Uniform Rank and the American Legion, both of Maria Stein, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Chickasaw, and past president of the Mercer County Right to Life.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Rev. Harry Cavanaugh officiating. Burial with full military honors is at the church cemetery.

Calling is 2-8 p.m. Tuesday and 9-10 a.m. Wednesday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster.

Contributions can be made to the Cancer Association of Mercer County.