Berge, Joseph Orlando -- 1925 - 2005
BERGE, PETERSON, GILBERTSON, SWANSON, MYERS, SMITH, BENDER, HENRY, SHATTO, KOPP, EDWARDS, KNOWLTON, HANSON
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/21/2012 at 17:07:34
Joseph O. Berge, age 80, of Decorah, Iowa, died Monday, October 17, 2005 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, following a brief illness.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, October 21, 2005 at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Decorah, by the Rev. Kim W. Smith, with burial in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 4:00-7:00 P.M. Thursday, October 20, 2005 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and an hour prior to the services on Friday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, 1725 Washington Prairie Road, Decorah, Iowa 52101 or the Decorah Senior Meal Site, 806 River Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101.
Joseph Orlando Berge was born January 14, 1925 on a farm in Orleans Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa, the son of August Julius and Minnie (Peterson) Berge. Joe was baptized on February 28, 1925 at Orleans Lutheran Church, rural Ridgeway, Iowa and confirmed on June 30, 1940 at Ossian Lutheran Church in Ossian, Iowa. He grew up on surrounding farms in the Decorah area and was educated in country school. Joe was a member of Decorah Lutheran Church and was active in the Usher’s Club.
Joe was united in marriage with Inez A. Gilbertson on September 29, 1946 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah by the Rev. T.A. Hoff. To this union, four children were born: Curt, Carol, Jeff and Jan.
Joe and Inez farmed in Decorah Township until 1978 and then they rented out the farm. They sold the farm in 1990 and moved into Decorah. Joe worked for Farm Service for eight years; K & S Super Valu for eight years and was currently employed at the Decorah Fareway Store for the past six years. He was an active member of Washington Prairie Lutheran Church and a member of the Skyliners Polka Club. Joe loved to go dancing with Inez and he treasured spending time with his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Inez of Decorah; his four children, Curt (Marge) Berge of Lexington, Kentucky, Carol (Scott) Swanson of St. Anthony, Minnesota, Jeff Berge of Tipton, Iowa, and Jan (Gary) Myers of Ely, Iowa; six grandchildren, Keri (Bill) Smith and Jason (Aaron) Berge, all of Lexington, Kentucky, Eric (Jan) Bender of Coon Valley, Wisconsin, Lynette (Mike) Henry of Decorah, Iowa, Shaun (Carrie) Myers of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Tina Shatto of Marshalltown, Iowa; nine great-grandchildren, Dominique Kopp, Diana Smith, Lindsey Smith and Tyler Berge, all of Lexington, Kentucky, Emmitt Edwards and Emily Bender of Coon Valley, Wisconsin, Anthony Henry and Danielle Henry of Decorah, Iowa and Allissa Shatto of Marshalltown, Iowa.; and a sister, Eileen (Robert) Knowlton of Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Gertrude Hanson; a brother in infancy; a son-in-law, Dean Bender and a brother-in-law, Howard Hanson.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Washington Prairie Lutheran cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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