Herbert Lambertsen

Herbert (Bert) Hans Lambertsen

Died peacefully at home January 3, 2011 at age 86 in Cedar, MI

“For where your treasure is, there shall your heart be also.” My family, my love, my life.

Born April 8, 1924 in Plainfield, NJ, to the late Christian J. and Ellen Lambertsen of Scotch Plains, NJ. His mother died 3 days after he was born, and family stepped in to care for infant “Herbie”. His father married Anna (Ponzio) Lambertsen (d) who raised him and his 3 siblings, Christian, Jr., Eleanor (d), and Florence (d). He grew up in the tough times of the great Depression, learning the practical, life-long survival skills he used daily.

He enlisted in the army during WWII and fought in General Patton’s 3rd army in France and Germany in some of the fiercest battles of the war, including the Battle of Remagen. True to his warm and generous nature, he made life-long friends while stationed overseas. Upon returning home, he married his high school sweetheart, Alice (Heitman) Lambertsen (d 1991); both attended Upsala College and earned their Bachelor Degrees. They settled in Connecticut, then Massachusetts, following an assortment of livelihoods on the way to their careers.

Together, they raised 8 children, who survive: Joanne (Roger d) Hatch (CT), Virginia (Roy Dudley) Sharma (MA), Elizabeth (Eric) Leinbach (MI), Nancy (Bill) Painton (TN), Janet (Neil) Pecharich (UT), Signe (Rafael Rios) Lambertsen (CT), Erik (Veronica) Lambertsen (AK), Kristen Till (MA) ~ and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as beloved cousins.

His brother, Dr. Christian Lambertsen (PA) also survives.

Bert and Alice started a gourmet food store in Topsfield MA, expanding to Salem MA as the family business grew. In work and in life, his beloved phrase “do a proper job” cropped up again and again. He was a well-known and featured personality, both at the Topsfield Fair and on Pickering Wharf, baking his famous ‘Bert’s Horrible Cookies’ and selling warm cookies and hot mulled cider to the crowds outside the door of Gourmet Fare, often dressed in costume or decorated hat, always ‘teasing’ and cheerful. His cookies were shipped worldwide, the goodies as much of a treat as his infectious smiles and jokes. He loved people, he loved animals, writing stories and letters, sunsets, lighthouses, crashing waves, music, old movies, hymns, reading and working with his hands.

Upon retirement, he came to live in Cedar MI, where his primary task each day was to lavish affection on Dakota - golden retriever and head of the “Bert Adoration Society”. Bert’s days were spent relaxing and enjoying the gardens, horses, chickens, geese, wildlife, beauty and peace that surrounded him – simple pleasures. He loved to sort through and organize ‘shop stuff’ from the woodshop and spent untold hours with old photos and family history papers, reliving and story-telling remembrances of people and places, treasures all.

He was active and upbeat, always looking for the “twinkle” in the day and ready to share his ready grin and ‘smile with Bert’ moments, snipping out comics and articles to send to all his loved ones – sharing ‘thinking of you’ moments made him happiest and animated. In an era of email, twitter and facebook, he – despite teasing by family tekkies – steadfastly wrote hundreds of letters on his “old fashioned” typewriter to his many friends and relatives around the world – one finger at a time. Although ‘walker bound’, he continued to attend minor league baseball games, chase the geese from the flower gardens and the hawks from the chicken yard, look for morel mushrooms and ‘visit’ the apple and pear trees on the hill. He even went para-sailing over Grand Traverse Bay – “what a thrill that was on a perfect day!”.

His spirituality and faith gifted him a blessed calmness and serenity during his declining health. He survived many health crises, working tirelessly to regain his health and mobility after each occurrence. He approached his encounter with cancer with all of the calm resolve and faith that governed his life. His life enriched so many; he was enriched as well. He will be missed by all.

“I have had a long life, filled with family and friends. There have been deep heartaches and hardships – there have been overwhelming joy, laughter and abundance. I have loved deeply and been loved – I have been blessed. The trials of life are as they have been for many before me. I survived them, and am content and at peace.”

He is with his beloved Alice. “Peace Be Thine”

Memorial services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Traverse Area District Library or Wings of Wonder.