Lester Berger

"Lester Berger" IRON MOUNTAIN - Lester E. Berger, 82, of N6310 M-95, Iron Mountain, died Monday, April 11, 2005, at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain. Les was born Sept. 3, 1922, in Niagara, Wis., son of the late Emil and Leona (Schetter) Berger. He graduated from Niagara High School in 1940, and was a resident of the area his entire life. Les was a veteran of World War II and served with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific Theater. He married Bernadine DeLoughary on Sept. 6, 1947, in Bark River. She preceded him in death in 1969. Les married June Cocking on Feb. 28, 1970, at First Covenant Church in Iron Mountain. He worked as a machine tender for the Niagara paper mill for 45 years until retiring in 1987. Les was a member of First Covenant Church and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3674. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. Les is survived by his wife, June; 10 children, Patrick (Debbie) Berger of Columbus, Ga., Michael (Debbie) Berger of Marquette, Tim Berger of Ramah, N.M., Robert DeGroot of Virginia Beach, Va., Ellen (Tim) McKee of Kincheloe, Douglas DeGroot of Norway, Robert (Vicki) Berger of Green Bay, Wis., Kenneth (Julie) DeGroot of Iron Mountain, Mary (Ralph) Lorenzoni of Iron Mountain, and Eileen Berger of Iron Mountain; one sister, Marie Joyce (Jim) Ratajczyk of Clintonville, Wis.; 22 grandchildren, Shaun Berger, Brian, Kimberly, Benjamin, and Samara Berger, Jason DeGroot, Timothy and Thomas McKee, Ryan and Cory DeGroot, Jaclyn Berger, Lindsey and Kacie Soquet, Joshua, Shantel and Ciarra DeGroot, Glenn, Neil and Anthony Lorenzoni and Alexander, MaKayla and Ashley Berger and two great-grandchildren, Anthony DeGroot and Jordan Berger. In addition to his parents and first wife, Les was also preceded in death by a daughter, Kathleen Berger; a grandson, Keith Edward DeGroot; two brothers, Don and Francis Berger and two sisters, Dorothy and Dolores. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday at the First Covenant Church in Iron Mountain. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. at the church. Pastor Dan Wheeler will officiate. Burial will be in Niagara Cemetery. The Uren-Cooper-Johnson American Legion Post 50 will conduct military graveside services. Pallbearers will be Brian Berger, Joshua DeGroot, Timothy and Thomas McKee, Shaun Berger and Glenn Lorenzoni. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in his memory. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Lester Berger online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.

Lester Berger

April 11, 1923 - April 11, 2005