Surnames: Berger, Lueneburg, Karnitz, Rueth, Knoop, Krause, McFarlane, Beyer, Thoma, Brinton, Varisto, Sullivan, Mech, Horeheld

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield Wood Co., Wis.) Mon, Feb 21, 2005

Berger, Marian Hildagarde (10 March 1928 - 19 Feb. 2005)

Marian H. Berger, 76, of Neillsville died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2005, at Memorial Nursing Home in Neillsville.

Funeral services for Marian will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005, at Pine Valley Zion Lutheran Church in Neillsville. Pastor Keith Lueneburg will officiate. Music will be provided by Virginia Karnitz, organist, and Jodi Rueth, soloist. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Jonathan Berger, Robert Knoop, Allen Krause, Neil Krause, Roger Krause and Richard McFarlane.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church.

Marian Hildagarde Beyer was born March 10, 1928, in Pine Valley Township, Clark County, Wisconsin, the daughter of William F. and Helen (Thoma) Beyer. She attended Hillside Grade School and graduated from Neillsville High School, where she was Prom Queen of her class. After graduation, she worked for a year at the ASCS office, a department of Agriculture, now called the Farm Service Agency. Marian married Arvid W. Berger on Sept. 4, 1947, in Neillsville. They moved to West Lafayette, Ind., where Arvid attended Purdue University, and later to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where Marian and Arvid raised their five children. Marian was actively involved with the First Lutheran Church of Poughkeepsie, serving as the Chairperson of the Social Action Committee. She also was involved with the local Habitat for Humanity, helping to build houses for the homeless. In addition, she worked as a medical secretary for three pediatricians in the area, volunteered as a Cub Scout leader and performed in local Gilbert & Sullivan stage productions.

When Arvid retired from IBM in 1987, he and Marian returned to Neillsville to the Beyer family home which Marian lovingly restored. Marian was a member of the Pine Valley Zion Lutheran Church and headed the committee that oversaw the funding for and installation of the stained glass windows in the new church. Marian also loved to travel, and she and her sister, Vivian, toured the United States and Europe.

Marian is survived by her husband, Arvid; five children, Bradley W. Berger of Baltimore, Md., Theodore W. (Roberta Diaz Brinton) Berger of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Stephanie L. (Michael Varisto) Berger of Martinez, Calif., Brian R. (Susan) Berger of Upper St. Clair, Pa. and Steven A. (Bridget Sullivan) Berger of Louisville, Colo.; and seven grandchildren, Kimberley Berger, Michaela and Evan Varisto and Lauren, Kristen, Jonathan and Chelsea Berger. Marian also is survived by several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Alma Mech and Vivian Horehled.

Memorials May be directed to the Marshfield Habitat for Humanity, 1208 W. 14th St., Marshfield WI 54449.

Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Marian's family with funeral arrangements.