Gottlieb Berger, father of Mayor G. R. Berger, died at the age of 83 on December 6, 1940. He was city commissioner from 1912 to 1932.

At the time Mr. Berger came to Murray with his parents only a few houses were in the entire Millcreek - Murray - Cottonwood district.
He was born in Bern, Switzerland, on Feb. 15, 1857, and came to the USA when three years of age. When the family came to Salt Lake City in Sep. 1860, they immediately settled in Murray.

Mr. Berger was a railroad brakeman for two years and was employed by American Smelting and Refining Company in Murray for 36 years. In May 1885, the smelting company sent him to Australia to supervise smelting operations there.

He was active in the old Murray LDS ward and in Murray Second ward, where he served as president of the high priest quorum for 20 years and as assistant superintendent of the ward Sunday school.

On December 2, 1880, he married Emma Arnold of Murray, (she preceded him in death).

He is survived by five sons and daughters, Mayor G.R. Berger; Mrs. Lillie Baker, Mrs. Merelda Johnson; Gottfred A. Berger, and C. Everett Berger, all of Murray; 25 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Mr. Berger is remembered by many Murray people for his faithful devotion to the interest of this community. Not only did he serve the city in his official capacity as a city commissioner, but was at all times keenly interested in all of its affairs during his lifetime and was active in several organizations. Mr. Berger won the affection of the Murray Fire Department by his high regard and labors for that group and in 1932 was awarded a gold watch by the firemen.

W.G. Churches of Murray who served on the city commission with Mr. Berger expressed his opinion of the deceased. "Mr. Berger was a man of unswerving loyalty and was courageous and honest. Few men have contributed more to the upbuilding of a community than did Mr. Berger."

Mr. Berger was that type of man who loved the community in which he lived with such a devotion that the stamp of his personality remains as part of the character of that community long after his death. He was always eager for any proposal that might mean progress and improvement for Murray, and no detail of civic affairs escaped his attention. He was a kindly man and a hard worker.

Later in life when the infirmities of age had taken hold of him, he still continued to participate in public affairs as a private citizen and there were many who sought his advice and help because of his broad experience.

Information from Murray Eagle Jan. 2, 1941 and newspaper article - no date available.