Eugene "Gene" J. Berg's Obituary
Eugene “Gene” Berg, age 76, of Wautoma, passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2023. He was born on May 22, 1947 to the late Gerald and Mildred (Kelpinski) Berg in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Gene married the love of his life Harriet (Hattie) Bekkers on September 28, 1974.
On February 29, 1972 Gene was awarded his Honorable Discharge from the United States Army Reserves where he specialized in Recovery and Evacuation. Upon his discharge he purchased land in Mackville with his wife Hattie and built his home where together they would later raise their 3 children.
No matter how hot the day was you would typically find Gene in a flannel shirt and wearing a baseball cap sporting one of his favorite past times - tractor pulls. During the “off months” from tractor pulls you could find him watching any football game he could find but nothing beat his love for his Packers and watching Nascar Racing. Gene enjoyed living the simple life. Living with 4 woman he never got a word in edgewise and up to the end; he remained a rather quiet and simple man.
He is survived by his three children, Vicki (Loren) Pingel, Teri Zahringer (special friend Maurice) and Amy (Paul) Dusel. Siblings, Mary (Lawrence) Fenske, Emmett (Jan) Berg, Rita (Dan) Kringel, Rose (Dwight) Wickesberg, Aggie (Joe) Reis, Tom (Fay) Berg and Bernadette (Robert) Peterson. Gene is further survived by two grandchildren, Nathan and Nicole Pingel and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Hattie, brother, Nick and other extended family.
The funeral liturgy will be held on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at ST. EDWARD CATHOLIC CHURCH, N2926 State Road 47, Appleton. A time of visitation will be held on Saturday, December 9 starting at 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. at church. Military honors will immediately follow the funeral liturgy. Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with arrangements.
In honor of Gene’s love for wearing flannel on even the hottest days we invite any funeral attendees to sport their favorite flannel shirt. Gene never enjoyed playing dress up so this is a great way to honor a great man.
Gene never wanted to live his final days in a Nursing Home setting. His family is blessed to have found such wonderful people at Prairie Home Assisted Living to care for him. Not only do we consider them his caregivers but family. In addition, Gene’s family would like to thank Promedica/Heartland Hospice for the wonderful care given to him.
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