Marjorie ""Midge"" Harris

Marjorie "" Midge ""  (Guelzow) Harris, 69, died unexpectedly while battling ALS, January 27, 2011, with much of her family by her side. Devoted wife, loving mom, heart-filled grandma, beloved aunt, and friend to so many dedicated her professional life to helping people, particularly children, with the struggles of life's circumstances. Born in Madison on October 25, 1941, to Ronald and LaVerne Guelzow of   Windsor, WI., Midge was the first of three children and grew up in a household filled with love. She attended Windsor Elementary and De Forest High School. Married to Richard Berger on August 3, 1963, she had three children and she raised her kids as the family moved from Chicago to McFarland to Miami to Minocqua and finally back to Madison, where she lived for the last 31 years of her life.   After the birth of her third child, Midge went to college, ultimately completing her undergraduate and master ' s degrees in psychology at UW-Madison. She devoted her career to helping children and the poor, always more concerned about helping  people than making money. Through her generous spirit, she touched the lives of hundreds of people in the communities of Portage, Richland Center, Monroe and Madison, making a critical difference for many.   She also raised three children, shuttling carloads of kids everywhere they needed to go. An artist at heart, she   encouraged her children to experiment, to try things new. She herself longed to create, returning in middle age to playing the French horn, an instrument she first played as a child.   Little did she know that her flirtation with relearning to play the French horn would change her life yet again, as her teacher, Don Harris, became a close friend, helping her through some difficult periods in her life. On March 9, 1991, Don and Midge married and settled down to a life in Madison. As her adult children began to chase their own dreams, the center of the   family remained in a house on Paget Road on Madison's east side, Midge serving as the hub of a geographically scattered family who always felt and were reassured by the strong ties reaching back to her.   She was preceded in death by parents LaVerne and Ronald Guelzow, brother Robert Guelzow, and sisters-in-law Kay and Helen Guelzow. She is survived by husband Don Harris of  Madison; children Tim Berger of Arcadia, Calif., Todd Berger of Williams, Ariz., Tara Thorpe of Madison, and nieces Karen Meyer of Chandler, Ariz., and Kristin Drake of Cottage Grove, who she raised after the death of her brother Bob and brother Tom Guelzow of Eau Claire. Midge's final gift was the gift of life as an organ donor. She leaves this world with the deep love of her family.  Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, January 31 at BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 312 Wisconsin Ave., where friends   may call from 10:00 A.M. until time of service. Reverend Duane E. Hanson will officiate. Burial will be in the Windsor Cemetery.   In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the ALS Association.  
                                     Cress Funeral & Cremation Service  
                                          3325 E. Washington Avenue  
                                                  (608) 249-6666