Alton “Rick” Berquist, 86, of Palmetto, Florida, passed away on October 29, 2026 surrounded by his family. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 29, 1940, to Alton and Dorothy Berquist. His parents were both natives of Carney, Michigan, and moved the family back there when Rick was five.

Rick studied chemical engineering at Michigan State University (Go Green!), the Colorado School of Mines, and Georgia Tech. While in graduate school in Colorado, he met the love of his life, Joan Kay “Jo” Seberg and they married in 1963. The couple moved several times early in their marriage before settling in Menominee, Michigan, to raise their family.

Rick began his career at Sinclair Research and Ansul Industries before founding Marmen Computing in 1970 to provide computer services to U.P. and Northeast Wisconsin companies. An entrepreneur at heart, he and his brothers managed a number of companies together, culminating in the purchase of Kargard Industries of Marinette, Wisconsin, out of bankruptcy and its transformation into the successful Silvan Industries. He took great pride in the entire Silvan team and the world-class pressure vessels they built.

Rick was a lifelong sports fan. He played baseball constantly as a boy and cheered on his favorite teams for the rest of his life, and he was thrilled to see Milwaukee finally win the World Series shortly before his death. He was also a dedicated golfer who proudly served as president of Riverside Country Club, helping to expand it from nine holes to eighteen.

Rick was equally passionate about Republican politics. He served as a District Chair in Michigan, working tirelessly to build support at the grassroots level, assisted Vice President George H.W. Bush’s presidential campaign, and was involved in statewide Michigan elections for decades. In recognition of that dedication, Governor John Engler appointed him to the Board of Control at Michigan Tech, where he served for ten and a half years.

Travel was another great love. After his father died at a young age, Rick resolved to live life to the fullest and see as much of the world as he could. He and Jo took every opportunity to explore, with Australia, Greece, and cruises among their favorites. He passed that spirit on to his children, and the family shared some wonderful holiday cruises together.

After retiring, Rick and Jo moved to Florida full time, first to Palm Beach Gardens and then to the Gulf Coast after Melissa, Derek, and their families relocated there in 2015. When Alton and Cyd moved in 2020, the entire immediate family was within 20 miles, which brought Rick and Jo immense joy.

Rick is survived by his wife, Jo; his children, Alton (Cyd), Derek (Jennifer), and Melissa; his brother, Barry, and sister-in-law, Stacy Berquist. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alton and Dorothy; his brothers, Craig and David; and his sister-in-law, Karen.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.