Obituary of Oran Leroy Bertsch

Oran Leroy Bertsch, 71, of Titusville, Florida, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Oran was born on May 22nd, 1946 in Dickinson, North Dakota, the son of Rudolf Bertsch and Carol Lucille (Howard) Bertsch. Oran was a 1964 graduate of Bowman, North Dakota High School. He graduated from North Dakota State University in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering. Oran was a certified member of Pi Tau Sigma Fraternity. Oran worked for Westinghouse/Siemens and retired in 2006. He was the inventor of numerous patents relating to power plants and combustion turbine engines. He lived in Granbury, Texas, Tampa, Pensacola, and Orlando, Florida before settling in Titusville. Since living in Florida, he enjoyed sailing on his boat named “OPUS.” His hobbies included snow skiing in Aspen, Colorado, running marathons, woodworking, and taking trips to the Florida Keys. Oran enjoyed car racing, particularly auto cross, Formula One and NASCAR. He proudly supported the NDSU Bison’s football team. He always enjoyed driving a Mustang, Camaro or Corvette. He leaves behind his companion, Bonnie Kosa, of Titusville and his longtime local friends who will dearly miss him. Oran was preceded in death by his father, mother, and his sister Ona Andre, plus grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles.