Carl Ernst Berg

             The ""Greatest Generation"" lost one of its finest when Carl Ernst Berg, age 95, entered his heavenly home on October 24, 2010 at Oakwood Village East Health and Rehabilitation Center.              

              Born in a Lutheran parsonage among the lush wheat fields in SE Nebraska on May 1, 1915 to Rev. C. E. Berg and Helene Wilhelmina nee Gross, Carl was the fifth of eight children in a home blanketed in Christian love.                

              When Carl's father accepted a call to St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in Ridgeville WI, Carl began the bond to Wisconsin that would remain for the rest of his life.                  

               He graduated from Tomah High School during the depths of the Great Depression in 1934 and decided to complete a fifth year at the attached Teacher Training Department   where he qualified for a five year license to teach one-room school.   Thus began a teaching career which would span 37   years.                  

               Carl entered the U. of Wisconsin in 1940. In 1942   he joined the Enlisted Reserve Army Corps and was called into Active Duty in Feb. 1943 with a combat infantry unit and sent to the Aleutian Islands and Alaska.   After discharge, Carl re-entered the University and graduated in January 1947 with a major in Economics and History.                  

                  After once again teaching in a one-room school for a short time, her accepted a position at Roosevelt Jr. High School in Oshkosh.   He taught there for 4 years and moved to Madison East High School where he taught from 1953 until his retirement in 1979.                

                  Carl loved life and loved people.   In retirement he did volunteer work at UW Hospital and Meals on Wheels.   He spent summers in Madison and winters in Florida giving him year round access to golf, shuffleboard and bowling.                 

                 Saturdays in the fall were reserved for Badger football where until only very recently did he stop renewing his season tickets after holding them for over 50 consecutive years.                     A faithful member of Eastside Ev. Lutheran Church, Carl was a mentor and powerful role model for his family.   We will miss his smile and infectious positive  outlook on life.        
 
                Carl was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Martin, Harold, and Winfred; four sisters Esther, Lydia, Irma and Alice; three brothers in law:   Reuben Roscovius (Esther), Clarence Kortbein ( Lydia), and Louis Bernhardt (Irma); and one sister in law, Jean (Winfred). 

                   His survived by one sister-in-law, Lucille Berg (Harold) and 12 nieces and nephews along with many great nieces and nephews.                   

            A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, October 27 at EASTSIDE   EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2310 Independence Lane, Madison with pastor Glen Schmiege officiating.   Inurnment will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in Tomah, WI   at a later date. 

             Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church.

             Memorials may be sent to East Side Ev. Lutheran Church, or the charity of your choice.                            
                  A heartfelt   thank you to the staff at Oakwood Village East HRC, HospiceCare, Dr. Michael Siebers, MD and Pastor Glen Schmiege.