Obituary for Dean Berg Dean Berg died peacefully in his home, just eleven days shy of his 85th Birthday surrounded by family on November 26, 2018, after battling several health issues over the past few years. Dean was born December 6, 1933 in Minot, North Dakota to LeRoy and Viola Berg. He was the second oldest of seven children.
When he was three years old his Father moved their family during the depression to California in search of employment where they settled in Palo Alto. His father started his own painting business, LeRoy Berg’s Painting. By the time Dean was in the 5th grade he started working to help support his family after school and during the summers, leading to his strong work ethic at a very young age and from that point on he was never without a job.
He strung tape on windows and doors for the family business often by himself, he delivered his Mother’s fresh squeezed lemonade to construction workers, had paper routes throughout the neighborhoods and was the bill collector for the local garbage man; making a race out of both of them. Needless to say his employers were rather impressed with how fast he could run! Dean attended Paly High in Palo Alto, California.
He was an amazing athlete that held several school records. He played football, basketball, track and boxing. In Football he was the quarterback and running back and his team was the State champs his sophomore, junior and senior years.
He was the forward and center on his Basketball team and they were the State champions his senior year. In track he held several records in the hurdles and also in the high jump. He was offered recruitment scholarships to play ball at several colleges but was needed in the family business and his dream of playing college ball was never to be, graduating in 1952.
Unable to attend college, led to him being drafted to the Korean War just several months later. He was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington for training and later shipped out. The Korean War was not something that he liked to discuss due to so many bad memories in such an ill prepared war, lacking ample clothing and supplies for our servicemen in harsh winter conditions.
Dean was known for his excellent marksmanship and after his tour was asked to train future servicemen; he declined to return to the families business. Dean, in his free time, continued to fulfill his passion for hunting big game, fishing and being an outdoorsman. He often traveled with his buddies to Wyoming and Colorado to hunt and fish, falling in love with Wyoming and dreamed of moving there.
In his late 20’s his Mother introduced him to her neighbor who lived across the street with her three children, who she grew to adore. They fell in love and he married Grace Anne on April 17, 1964. They lived in Sunnyvale, California with their three children Christopher, Kathy and Mari.
Later their daughter Ingrid was born. Dean continued in the family business until they fulfilled their dream of moving to Jackson, Wyoming on July 24, 1970. Dean help build their dream home on the Hoback River in Jackson while working full time at Ryan’s Drywall.
He soon became known for his expertise in the drywall industry as a proficient finisher, working on many homes and businesses throughout Jackson and surrounding areas. During his free time he enjoyed playing city league basketball, square dancing with Grace, golfing and continued his passion for hunting and fishing. He later started his own drywall business in the early 1980’s.
They became snowbirds after Dean’s retirement to the Tucson area in 1993 and lived that life for many years. Deciding to become permanent residents of Oro Valley, after selling their Jackson property in the early 2000’s, finding a new love for the desert. For a few years they enjoyed the Pinetop area with a second home.
In Oro Valley they created a living oasis in their back yard below Pusch Ridge, which brought them much happiness, as they often had wildlife visitors that reminded them of their years in Wyoming, making it their permanent residence. Dean chose during this time in their life to be baptized as an outward expression of his faith in Christ. Dean was often referred to as a John Wayne look alike with quick whit, sense of humor, strong work ethics and being a true gentleman.
His family, who dearly loved him and those he touched throughout his life will sorely miss him, but are comforted with the assurance that he’s eternally living with our Father in Heaven and finally free of pain and suffering. Dean is survived by his wife Grace Berg of 54 years, his children Christopher Langan (Hawaii), Kathy (Billy) Robertson (Jackson, WY), Mari Berg (Eugene, OR) and Ingrid (Gary) Shaw (Star Valley, WY); his Grandchildren Michael and Shawn Robertson, John and Douglas Szymanski, Chad & Lahela Langan and Dean & Faith Shaw and 20 great grandchildren; and by his siblings Betty Murphy, Jerome Berg, Billy Berg, Margo Hoffman, Michael Berg and Lenny Berg. Dean was preceded in death by his parents Leroy and Viola Berg and his eldest Grandson Dennis Robertson.
Grace and their children are planning a celebration of his life in their garden with local friends and those he touched in the area on Saturday, December 1st from 2pm-4pm. The family is going to have a celebration of life in Wyoming at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family is asking to make donations to your local hospice or Casa de la Luz Hospice in Oro Valley, as they were an amazing comfort and help during these past few months to his family.
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