Bert K. Erickson, 95, of Fayetteville, passed away Sunday after a brief illness. He was born in New Auburn, Wisconsin in 1921. In 1939, he joined the U.S. Navy and served for 7 years in both the Atlantic and Pacific, achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
After leaving the service, Bert received his B.S.E.E. degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1950 and his M.S.E. degree from Union College, Schenectady, NY. He saw education as a way to open new doors in life.
The family moved to Fayetteville in 1958. Bert was employed by the General Electric Company and the Syracuse University Research Corporation. As a research and development engineer, his work involved control systems and signal processing. Bert held numerous patents. In retirement, he worked with the Technology Club of Syracuse (Technology Alliance of Central New York TACNY).
Bert loved his family along with many cherished cats and dogs over the years. He was happy to spend time building a doll house, repairing pretty much anything or solving a Sudoku puzzle. Even though he moved away from Wisconsin in the 1950s, he was still a big Wisconsin Badger and Green Bay Packers fan.
Bert was predeceased by his wife, Jean V. Erickson. He is survived by his three children, Lynn Chorlton (Jim) of Madison, WI, John Erickson (Linda) of Liverpool, and Katherine Erickson (Mark Reed-Edwards) of Westborough, MA; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Calling hours are Monday from 4-7 pm at Eaton-Tubbs Fayetteville Chapel, 7191 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. A funeral service will follow at 7:00 pm at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the University of Wisconsin Foundation College of Engineering, US Bank Lockbox, Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278-0807 or Meals on Wheels Eastern Onondaga County, PO Box 72, Manlius, NY 13104.