The foundation formed in 2019 to honor the public service legacy of Lorraine F. Bertsch (Lory) and Fred S. Bertsch Jr. (Fritz).  The foundation plans to honor Lorraine and Fred Bertsch by promoting community service and education.  

Fritz, a native of Holland, Michigan, and Lory, a native of Muskegon, Michigan, first met while pursuing higher education through Hope College.  

Upon graduating in the spring of 1941, Fritz reported to Naval Officer Candidate School and was subsequently ordered to report to the USS Case (DD-370) forward deployed to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  He reported aboard the USS Case a few months prior to the Japanese attack.  After the attack, the USS Case was present at most of the significant engagements in the Western Pacific.  

Upon her graduation in the spring of 1942, Lory taught High School Latin for a year prior to applying for and gaining commission in the Navy Wave program.  She reported to the Communications Center in Washington D.C. where she worked in encoding and decoding efforts.  

In 1943 Fritz received orders to the Pre-Commisioning unit for the USS Monssen (DD-378).  Arriving in the States, Fritz quickly lost no time in contacting Lory and together they agreed to make a life together.  Shortly after they married, it was back to the war for both of them. Fritz returned to the West Pacific on the Monssen and Lory to her duties in Washington D.C.

In November 1944 Fritz was ordered back to the States to attend the Naval Architecture Course and the couple reunited.  Lory was offered and accepted an early discharge as the war was winding down.  

Blessings in terms of children arrived and challenges in terms of separation due to sea duty was the order of the day for the Bertschs’ during the post war years.  In 1948, Fritz was ordered to Naval Flight School where he subsequently earned his designation as a Naval Aviator. Subsequent assignment to VP-42 in June of 1950 saw Fritz deployed as the first air squadron in response to the Korean War.  Fritz flew combat missions for a year throughout Korea until the squadron returned to the States.  After additional tours, Fritz and Lory decided Fritz should transfer to the Naval Reserve and the family moved home to Western Michigan, settling in Holland.  

Fritz and Lory continued public service as they both pursued careers in education.  Lory taught elementary school while Fritz taught high school math, later becoming Principle of Holland High School.  In addition to their love of teaching, they were active in community service clubs and also successful, active entrepreneurs.  They developed Bay Woodlands and Bay Forest Subdivisions in Holland, and also built a set of apartment buildings among many pursuits.  As the Rotary District Governor later in life, Fritz and Lory traveled throughout Michigan and Canada.  Fritz promoted to Captain in the Naval Reserve and retired from the reserve in 1971 with over 30 years of military service. The couple spent most of their lives living in Western Michigan before retiring to Florida. Lorraine passed away in 1997 and Fred in 2012.  Today, they rest together in Arlington National Cemetery.

The Foundation hopes to pass on the sevice mentality of Fritz and Lory to future gnenerations to come.