Matt Bergen

Matthew (Matt) Robert Bergen of Minneapolis, MN, died suddenly of an apparent heart attack on July 11, 2020 at age 49: too damn soon.

Matt was born in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota on February 1, 1971. During his childhood in MN and the Dakotas he developed an appreciation for both sports and art (how does that happen?). He was a BMX racer, football player, and a really fast sprinter. He earned a BFA in photography from the MN State University Moorhead, and an MFA in printmaking from Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia.

In 1992 he met Sara. She was crass, and laughed too loud and too often; you know the type. He was smitten. In 1998 he finally bought the cow. During the ensuing 22 years he cultivated husbandry skills that were the envy of all his friends’ wives.

Matt’s love for Sara was matched only by his love for their three boys: Milo (dead-pan funny, politically astute), Emmett (thespian and sports statistician), and Frankie (jacked and buff).  He was a true co-parent and showed his boys, by example, how to laugh and how to apologize, how to lead with joy and kindness, and how to bird-dog a dream. He was a proud innovator in the couch-parenting movement, while actively nurturing his kids’ interests in music, baseball, wrestling, and soccer.

After grad school Matt turned to the Internet to support his twice-a-week art habit. He taught himself web design and worked as an interactive designer, art director, and UX manager.  From co-workers: "We always gave each other so much shit; I enjoyed working with him so much”, and “In addition to keeping us guffawing, he was the best partner I ever worked with in advertising, who took women's ideas really seriously.” Another: “He was a stone cold fox”.

Matt maintained a studio and consistently went twice a week.  He would work a full day, attend to family, and then head to his studio.  He was driven; his art provided an intellectual and creative outlet akin to a spiritual practice.  You can see his work at www.mbergen.com or at m.bergen on instagram.

We will miss his irreverent sense of humor, quick wit, and huge heart.

Matt was preceded in death by his nephew, Tommy Dunlap. He is survived by his wife, Sara Bergen (née Dunlap); three sons, Milo “Buckshiz”, Emmett “Emmie Von Emerson” and Frankie “Couchy Rodriguez”; mother Barb Jahnke; father and stepmother, Richard and Susan Bergen; hot brother, Paul (ex-spouse April) Bergen and smart brother Patrick (Laura) Bergen; in-laws Marlys and John Dunlap; three nieces Becca Bug, Margaret, and Hazel Diane Nuts; four nephews Cole, SamWAYla, Ryan, and Maximum Velocity; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

A memorial service is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Monday, July 20, 2020 at the Nicollet Island Pavilion (40 Power Street, Minneapolis, MN).  Link for live streaming the memorial service: https://umn.zoom.us/j/99557118772. Link will be live around 2:30. Service will start some time after 3:00, depending on how long it takes to get everyone checked in. Note that if you are attending in person, Nicollet Island Pavillion requires masks.

Memorial contributions may be made to the kids’ college funds at www.ugift529.com code 23T-B4D, K92-84M, or F9K-61N, or to www.lincolnproject.us.