Matthew Robert 'Matt' Bergen

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Bergen, Matthew "Matt" Robert 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 sprinter. He earned a BFA in photography from MN State Moorhead, and an MFA in printmaking from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. In 1992 he met Sara. She was crass, and laughed too loud and too often; you know the type. His love for Sara was matched only by his love for their three boys: Milo, Emmett, and Frankie. 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. 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: "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. You can see his work at 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, Emmett and Frankie; mother Barb Jahnke; father and stepmother, Richard and Susan Bergen; brothers, Paul (ex-spouse April) Bergen and Patrick (Laura) Bergen; in-laws Marlys and John Dunlap; three nieces, four nephews, 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). Memorial contributions may be made to the kids' college funds at ugift529.com code 23T-B4D, K92-84M, or F9K-61N, or to lincolnproject.us. 612-724-3621 bradshawfuneral.com

Published on July 19, 2020