David J. Berger, 85, Jasper
David J. Berger, 85, of Jasper, passed away at 9:35 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2020, at his home surrounded by his wife and family.
Dave was born in Jasper on January 11, 1935, to Alphonse and Catherine (Pfaffenberger) Berger. He married Barbara Gutgsell on February 7, 1959, in Holy Family Catholic Church in Jasper.
Dave was a 1954 Jasper High School graduate. He was the first employee of the United Cabinet Corporation in 1954, hiring on as a bookkeeper. He held the positions of customer relations manager, purchasing agent, and administrative vice president before retiring from Masterbrand Cabinets as executive vice president after 43 years of service. He was a past member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the School of Agriculture at Purdue University and the external advisory council of the Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.
He served as co-chairman with his wife, Barb, for the Jasper Area Relatives of Sisters of St. Benedict “Forward in Faith” fundraising campaign. He served on the finance committee of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church where he was also a member. He and his wife were recipients of the Brute Society Award.
He was a past treasurer and board member of the Jasper Chamber of Commerce. He also served as a treasurer of the Jasper Moose Lodge. He served on the board of directors for the holding corporation of Jasper High School. He was also a past board member of the Greater Jasper Consolidated School Corporation, Jasper Parks and Recreation Department, the Jasper Industrial Medicine Society, and the original board of directors of the Jasper Junior Achievement.
He was a youth organization volunteer and chairman for fund-raisers for the Boy Scouts, USS Swimming and the Jasper Little League where he also served as a coach. He was also a member of the local German Club. His love of life, family, and friends was endless.
Dave enjoyed cookouts, hunting, fishing, gardening, wine-making, shrimp boils, rabbit feeds, and board meetings at Headquarters. He was an avid Atlanta Braves fan and Purdue Sports follower. He never met a stranger.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barb Berger of Jasper; five children, Tony (Lynn) Berger of Jasper, Tammy Elsner of Martinsville, Ind., Terri (Mike) Olinger of Owasso, Okla., Tom (Kim) Berger of Houston, and Tricia (Dewey) Wyatt of Richmond, Mass.; eight grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and 11 great-step-grandchildren; one brother, Gilbert “Bud” (Mary Jane) Berger of Jasper and one sister, Mary Beth (Steve) Sleeth of Danville; several nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death are three brothers; Charles “Chuck”, Alan, and Michael Berger; one grandson, Ryan Elsner; one nephew, Keith Berger.
A Mass of Christian Burial for David J. Berger will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 16, 2020, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper, Indiana, with burial to follow in Fairview Cemetery.
Masks and social distancing will be required.
A private family visitation will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or to a favorite charity.
Online condolences may be made at www.becherkluesner.com.
