Ira H. “Hack” Bertram
May 5, 1927 ~ September 3, 2018
Ira Hascal “Hack” Bertram, 91, Glasgow, died Monday, September 3, 2018, at Glenview Health Care Facility. He was born on May 5, 1927 in Glasgow to the late Ira Haskal Bertram, Sr. and Mercedes Foster Bertram.
Hack was a member of the First Christian Church of Glasgow and was a retired salesman. He served in the U. S. Army from 1945 to 1947. He was a member of the Green River Archeological Society, having served as First Vice President for many years. He was a former volunteer at the South Central Cultural Center and led many tours through the museum. He especially enjoyed speaking with the various school groups and sharing his love of the history of Glasgow and Barren County along with his military experiences.
He is survived by his wife, Lillian Depp Bertram; one son, Shawn Bertram and wife Janice; two grandsons: Justin Bertram and wife Lauren and Lucas Bertram. He is also survived by nephews: Mike Bush and wife Karen, and Alan Cox and wife Nicole Nee Cox; and nieces: Sue Muse and husband Joe, Kay Bush, Lesley Cagle and husband Todd, and Sherralyn Cox; along with several great nephews and great nieces.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Nancy Bertram Bush, and a nephew, Steve Bush.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home with burial in the Glasgow Municipal Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm Wednesday and continue Thursday morning at the funeral home.
Alternate expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the South Central Kentucky Cultural Center, 200 W. Water Street, Glasgow, KY 42141.
Lillian, Shawn and family members: So very sorry to hear of Hack, Jr’s passing. He was a fine fella. All of you will be in our prayers.
Dearest Uncle Hack: You have fought the fight of a warrior. At last you can rest peacefully. Please know that I cherish the privilege of having had you be a part of my family. You taught me how to walk the freshly-plowed tobacco fields in search of the perfect, centuries-old, arrowhead. Most of mine were broken upon finding, but not that little pink one that I keep in my jewelry drawer.
You showed me how to gig a frog, not that I could see much through my tightly-squeezed-shut eyelids. Somehow, that midnight trek into the swamp found only abundant frogs and none of those giant snakes that you so loved to handle, bless your heart.
You shared some of the episodes of your life as an MP in the US Army in 1945. For those of us who thought the War had ended then, we learned otherwise from you.
When my father Martin died, I was a teenager, my brother Alan was in grade school. You took the train to Washington state so you could drive Alan, Mother, and me back East so we could start life over in Kentucky. You and Grand-dad Carlisle Depp became the fathers that we needed so badly at that awful time.
Aunt Lillian, Shawn, Janice, Justin, Lauren, and Lucas will keep your torch burning brightly for us, always. I know you hear me, for if ever a Christian, White man can go to the Happy Hunting Grounds, you are there now.
Much Love, I Miss You, Sherry