Bert Harfmann

Bert Harfmann was born on November 3, 1952 in Germany to Maria Schmidtdecker and Daniel Harfmann. Bert had two siblings, Helmut Harfmann and Anton “Tony” Harfmann. Bert spent the first 4 years of his life in a little town of Laufen Am Neckar, Germany, which means “a walk on the Neckar river.” In 1956, Bert’s family immigrated to the United States and settled in Syracuse, New York.  By 1963 they all became official US citizens. Bert graduated the top of his class for electrical engineering technology at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York. At age 25, Bert sailed to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where he worked as an independent electrician. For a short time Bert was a road crew and sound crew member for Jimmy Buffet. Bert had also mentioned that on more than one occasion he had partied on Bob Dillan’s boat. During the 40 years Bert lived on St. Thomas, he was well known and loved in the Benner Bay community on St. Thomas., where he met MisSea Boatman, with whom he spent the rest of his life with. Bert and MisSea described themselves as “Snowbirds” living both on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and in Salem, Oregon for the past 12 years. Bert loved anything to do with the ocean, like snorkeling and sailing. Bert became a talented craftsman who enjoyed repairing and refinishing furniture along side MisSea. Bert passed away on August 26, 2020 in Salem, Oregon. He is survived by his soulmate and best friend, MisSea Boatman; his mother Maria Schmidtdecker, and his brothers Helmut Harfmann and Tony Harfmann. In addition to the many friends he made all over the world.A private memorial will be held at a later date on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands