Jon Wergedal

Jon Engval Wergedal, 85, died, following a long battle with cancer, on December 14, 2021, at HopeWest Hospice in Grand Junction, CO. Jon was born February 19, 1936, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to parents, Engval Kristian Wergedal (from Lardal, Norway), and Elsie Sophia (Wick) Wergedal, (from Ironwood, MI). Jon was a first generation American. His father, Engval, emigrated to the United States in 1923, at the age of 19, and settled in the state of Wisconsin. His mother was born to immigrant parents from Vassa Finland, John and Christina Stolpe Wick, who settled in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Jon grew up in Eau Claire WI, graduating from Eau Claire High School as Valedictorian of his 1954 class, where he was also captain of the football team, excelled in several athletic sports and academics, and won awards in sportsmanship. He earned his Bachelors’ Degree in Chemistry at St. Olaf’s College in Northfield, Minnesota, and his Masters’ and Doctorate Degrees at the University of Wisconsin, in Madison WI.

Dr. Wergedal’s life’s work was focused on researching bones and he was an integral member of a team of bone research investigators for over 45 years. Beginning in Tacoma, WA, at the American Lake V.A. Hospital, Jon developed “metabolic research techniques” for investigating bones. His research work continued later at Loma Linda V.A. Hospital, in Redlands, CA. During his career, he collaborated with a fellow researcher in Maine on a “mouse genetic” project and demonstrated that bone formation is “multigenetic”. He was a regular presenter at international meetings of bone experts, contributing to more than 220 presentations, and has over 10,000 citations to his name. He retired from the V.A. research program in 2015, with the title of Research Professor of Medicine at Loma Linda University in California.
During the mid-1970s, Jon took a few-years’ break from his research to indulge his love of the plant world, moving to Palisade, CO to work alongside his brother Jerry, and sister-in-law Kaye, in the wholesale/retail greenhouse business. After Jon retired, he moved back to the Grand Junction area, to spend his later years close to family.

Jon was an avid fisherman, outdoorsman, and sports enthusiast. He loved being in the outdoors, whether he was fishing, camping, hiking, or panning for gold, he loved the quiet and the beauty of nature through its flora and fauna. He also was an avid indoor and outdoor gardener, and bird watcher. God’s creatures, big and small, Jon loved them all!
A lifetime member of the Lutheran Church, Jon was confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church, in Eau Claire WI; served for 15 years as the Chairman of the Property Committee at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Redlands CA; and recently became a member of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Grand Junction CO.

Jon is survived by his sister, Nancy Foubert of Altoona, WI, his brother, Jerry (Kaye) Wergedal of Grand Junction, CO, fourteen nieces and nephews, many grand-nieces and nephews, great grand-nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, and research colleagues. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elsie and Engval Wergedal, his brother, Paul Wergedal, and his sister, Maren Koivula.

Services were held in Grand Junction, CO, on February 19, 2022. Services in WI will be held at 11:00 a.m. on May 23, 2022 at Stokes, Prock & Mundt Funeral Chapel, 535 S. Hillcrest Parkway, Altoona. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions, in honor of Jon E Wergedal, may be made to: General St. Olaf Fund, St. Olaf College Development Office, 1520 St. Olaf Ave. Northfield, MN 55057 or fund@stolaf.edu.