Mr. Bertram died Sunday at his home

©The Lawton Constitution, Lawton, Oklahoma (August 17, 1998)

Funeral for Joe Bertram, 85, Lawton, will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with the Reverend James D. M. Stafford, pastor, officiating.

Mr. Bertram died Sunday at his home.

Rosary will be at 7 p.m. today at Becker Funeral Home Memorial Chapel.

Burial will be in Highland Cemetery.

He was born January 28, 1913, in Lawton.   In 1934, he graduated from Lawton High School, where he played football.   He married Mary Wylma Baker on December 23, 1937, in Lawton.   He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, as an airplane mechanic.   He was honorably discharged as a technical sergeant in 1946, in Sacramento, California.   Following his service, he was employed by Montgomery Wards and Waggoner Furniture in Lawton.   In 1950, he became self-employed as a building and remodeling contractor.   Mr. Bertram was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, and the Knights of Columbus.   He was a charter member of Burgess Coffee Club, and a former member of Four Seasons Dance Club.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; his daughters and sons-in-law: Nancy and Jay Bonifield, and Mary Beth and John Vela, all of Lawton; son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Deanne Bertram, Lawton; a sister, Lahoma Benke, Lawton; 11 grandchildren: Joseph Sayre, Jeremy and Jessica Bonifield, Jason Adam, and Heather Vela, Kaci, Geoffrey, Toney, Stephanie and Michael Bertram.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cleo Craig Memorial Cancer and Research Foundation or Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

©The Lawton Constitution, Lawton, Oklahoma (August 18, 1998)

Funeral for Joe Bertram, 85, Lawton, will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with the Reverend James D. M. Stafford, pastor, officiating.

Mr. Bertram died Sunday at his home.

A rosary was held Tuesday night in Becker Funeral Home Memorial Chapel.

Burial will be in Highland Cemetery.

He was born January 28, 1913, in Lawton.   In 1934, he graduated from Lawton High School, where he played football.   He married Mary Wylma Baker on December 23, 1937, in Lawton.   He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, as an airplane mechanic.   He was honorably discharged as a technical sergeant in 1946, in Sacramento, California.   Following his service, he was employed by Montgomery Wards and Waggoner Furniture in Lawton.   In 1950, he became self-employed as a building and remodeling contractor.   Mr. Bertram was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, and the Knights of Columbus.   He was a charter member of Burgess Coffee Club, and a former member of Four Seasons Dance Club.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; his daughters and sons-in-law: Nancy and Jay Bonifield, and Mary Beth and John Vela, all of Lawton; son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Deanne Bertram, Lawton; a sister, Lahoma Benke, Lawton; 11 grandchildren: Joseph Sayre, Jeremy and Jessica Bonifield, Jason Adam, and Heather Vela, Kaci, Geoffrey, Toney, Stephanie and Michael Bertram.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Toney and Matilda Bertram; a son, Tony Bertram; his brother, Millard Bertram; and a granddaughter, Jamie Lynn Bonifield.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cleo Craig Memorial Cancer and Research Foundation or Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

©The Lawton Constitution, Lawton, Oklahoma (August 19, 1998)