John Berger

John C. Berger

Age 70 of Wilmington and formerly the Southside of Chicago, passed away November 20, 2011 at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee.

Born October 11, 1941 in Chicago, John was a son of the late Carl and Martha "Becky" Randolph-Berger. He was raised and educated in Chicago and married Katherine "Shirley" Milholland on October 15, 1966 in St. Felicitas Catholic Church in Chicago. John was a Veteran of the United States Air Force and retired from Mobil Joliet Refinery in 1998 after 27 years of service. John was a member of the Mobil Retirement Club and had a love for traveling and nature. He was a volunteer at both Midewin Tallgrass Prairie, as well as Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. John will be remembered as a faithful and loving husband and father, who was forever dedicated to his wife and children.

Survivors include his wife of 45 years Katherine "Shirley" Berger; daughter Amy Berger of Port Orange, Florida; two sons: Christopher Berger and Matthew Berger, both of Wilmington; brother William (Barbara) Berger of Tempe, Arizona, whom he admired for his strength, and several nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents.

The family received friends on Friday November 25, 2011 between the hours of 2:00PM and 5:00PM at Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington.

Graveside services and Military Honors will be held Monday April 9, 2012 at 11:00AM in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. Family and friends wishing to attend the committal services are invited to gather at the funeral home on Monday April 9th at 10:00AM to process to the cemetery at 10:30AM.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in John's memory to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Honor Squad or Midewin Tallgrass Prairie.

Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences to the family by logging onto: www.FRBfuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington. (815/476-2181)