Paul E. Bercot, 92, passed away April 5, 2016 at his home in Ft. Wayne. He was born June 7, 1923 in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada, to the late Earl and Virginia Maude Bercot. Born with dual citizenship, Paul came to the United States as a young man and joined the United States Army. During his service, he met the love of his life, Ruthie. Ruth was a young widow with two small children, and he claimed he fell in love with the children first. The couple wed in 1950 and went on to have 5 more children. They celebrated a long life together with their large family at the center of their joy. Along with his partner, Tom Gibson, Paul started Bercot-Gibson Construction in 1955. He remained in the heavy construction industry until his retirement in 1990. He served on several boards and foundations including Concordia Lutheran High School for many years; and was a member and past president of Orchard Ridge Country Club; appointed to F.W. Hospital Authority by former Mayor Paul Helmke, and long-time member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, and a life time member of the Elks and Friars Club. Aside from family and career, Paul loved taking family vacations, traveling with Ruthie, and spending winters in Naples, Florida playing golf with all his buddies. Although he earned his GED, one of the greatest highlights of his life was receiving an honorary diploma from Concordia Lutheran High School in 2007. Always fast with a story, a joke or a limerick, he was often found entertaining the crowd.

Surviving are his children, Steven (Lenka) Bercot, Colleen (Bruce) Hallberg, Donald (Cynthia) Bercot, Virginia Malone, James (Jean) Bercot, Michael (Kristine) Bercot, John (Karen) Bercot, 20 Grandchildren, 12 Great-grandchildren and 2 siblings Betty Connick and Dean Bercot. Paul was preceded in death by his wife Ruth Bercot on April 1, 2015 and a grandson and 4 siblings.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday April 11, 2016 at Redeemer Lutheran Church 202 W. Rudisill Blvd. with viewing 1 hour prior to service. There is also viewing Sunday April 10 at Covington Memorial Funeral Home 8408 Covington Rd. from 4-8 p.m. Preferred memorials are to the Paul and Ruth Bercot Scholarship Fund at Concordia Lutheran High School, Fort Wayne, IN or Heartland Hospice. Burial will be in Covington Memorial Gardens Cemetery.