Heinz Bergmann, 86, who owned an upscale German restaurant in Lincolnwood for about 20 years, died Thursday, June 13, in a Stuart, Fla., hospital. Born in Germany, Mr. Bergmann as a young boy immigrated to Chicago with his family. After graduating from high school, he ran errands at a German restaurant, Eitel’s Old Heidelberg, which used to be on Randolph Street. Drafted into the Army during World War II, Mr. Bergmann served as a mess sergeant in Europe and the Pacific. He learned how to cook and eventually was put in charge of the mess halls. In the early 1940s, Mr. Bergmann married his wife, Edna, whom he had met in Chicago. “When Heinz said he would do all the cooking, she said `Yes,'” said his brother, Egon. Mr. Bergmann resumed working at Eitel’s after the war, eventually becoming manager and co-owner. In the early 1960s, Mr. Bergmann opened Bergmann’s Restaurant in Lincolnwood. It was known for its authentic German cuisine and its decor–beer steins, wooden carvings and paintings of the country’s landscape. The restaurant’s authenticity was due in part to Mr. Bergmann’s touch. He designed and adorned it himself, buying decorations during frequent trips with his wife to Europe. Mr. Bergmann lived on Chicago’s North Side most of his life until he sold the restaurant and retired in the early 1980s. He moved to Hot Springs, Ark., and later Stuart, Fla. In addition to being a top-notch cook, Mr. Bergmann was talented in wood carving and repairing clocks. His wife died five years ago. Besides his brother, Mr. Bergmann is survived by his sister-in-law, Rhoda; a niece; two great-nieces; and two great-nephews.
