Richard Mark "Dick" Berger - Obituary
Richard Mark Berger (Dick), 85, of Fenton, Michigan, made his final exit from worldly existence on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. He died peacefully, surrounded by family, at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc, MI, of complications from multiple health issues.
Richard was born January 6, 1938, in West, Texas. A lifelong lover of the water, he trained as a lifeguard, and once rescued his younger sister, Joan, from risk of drowning in a neighbor's pool. Later he spent time scuba diving, snorkeling, and sailing. He dove everywhere he went, pulling up old anchors and catching sea bass and sheepshead on Ascension Island, catching scores of lobsters in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, and dozens of conchs in St. Croix, USVI.
His interest in aircraft and engineering began in childhood when he made model airplanes from balsa wood and silk, then painted them and installed little engines to fly them. He attended University of Texas at Austin in 1957 before enlisting in 1958 in the US Air Force, where he was selected for specialized technical training.
His military service took him to Seville, Spain; Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Topeka Kansas, where he met his first wife, the mother of his daughter, Darlene Berger. He was honorably discharged after nearly 5 years in October 1964.
Dick had a long career as an electronics engineer working for McDonnell Aircraft Corp, RCA, Honeywell, and General Motors. While working for RCA, Dick worked on Apollo 11, the first human spaceflight to land on the moon, monitoring the crew and spacecraft.
For many years, Dick adored playing tennis with his wife, Nancy Alice (Lovejoy) Berger, whom he met in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. He spent many hours perfecting his game and won many tournaments.
Dick loved dressing up in colorful socks and vests. He cultivated a man-about-town style with his canes and his bartending repertoire. He loved making and drinking Bourbon Old Fashioneds and Paper Airplanes.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his daughter, Darlene; son-in-law, Paul Fortin; sisters and brothers-in-law, Joan and Marvin Nors and Andrea and Royce Walston; sister-in-law and husband, Ellynn and Richard Elsholz; and many nieces and nephews and other family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Isidor and Josephine (Detterman) Berger; his brother, Clarence Berger and sister-in-law, Sophie (Svacina) Berger; and his mother; father-in-law, Mark and Verna (Michels) Lovejoy.
A memorial service is planned at First Presbyterian Church, 503 South Leroy St., Fenton, Michigan, on November 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm.
Detroit Cremation Society, 8253 S Saginaw St., Grand Blanc, Michigan 48439
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Richard Mark "Dick" Berger – Obituary
(January 6, 1938 – November 7, 2023)
Richard Mark "Dick" Berger was born at home in West, Texas on Thursday, January 6, 1938, the second son of Isidor and Josephine (Detterman) Berger. He was baptized three days later on Sunday, January 9, 1938, at St. Mary's Church of the Assumption in West by Rev. Francis J. Dobias. His baptismal sponsors were his Uncle and Aunt, Fred and Inez Detterman.
Richard had one other sibling at the time, his older brother Clarence Berger who was twelve years older than Richard, and boy did Richard throw a monkey wrench into his works. To be an only child for twelve years and then have to "put up with" a stinking little brother was the pits, but the two actually got on great together.
Richard went to school at St. Mary's Catholic School, in West from first through the eight grade. One of his favorite activities was participating in the band. He played coronet and trumpet, both with great ease. He was quite a natural and very musically inclined. The St. Mary's band also participated with the West High School band, playing, and marching at the Friday night football games.
Richard graduated from St. Mary's in May, 1952. In September he started ninth grade at West High School. Richard participated in the West High School band throughout his years there. He practiced regularly and you could hear that horn throughout the neighborhood. He could play taps and bring tears to your eyes.
After his graduation Richard and his family moved to Waco where his parents owned and operated Berger's Grocery & Market. Richard helped his dad in the store until the fall of 1957 when he attended University of Texas at Austin, Texas. In 1958 his Dad required surgery at Providence Hospital. Richard abandoned his studies at University of Texas to help his mother run the family owned business while his dad recuperated.
After his dad had recovered, Richard enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for four years. He was sent to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas for basic training. After completion of his initial course he was selected to attend the technical training school for Radio and Radar at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi for additional training. He graduated in August, 1959 from Department of Fixed Command. There were ten airmen in the class.
From Keesler AFB Richard went to Seville, Spain. He lived at a place called San Pueblo, which means "Holy People." It is a small place about 10 miles northeast of Seville.
His next assignment was in Saudi Arabia at the Airfield located at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia on the Persian Gulf. From there he was sent to Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas. His Squadron, the 55th Armament and Electronics Sq., was part of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. He and his squadron also spent several weeks in Birmingham, England.
While stationed at Forbes AFB, he worked on the U2 project from 1960 to 1963. He spent 6 months in Incirlik, Turkey in '62 to '63 working on the U2 project. Two of their reconnaissance pilots were shot down near the same time as Francis Gary Powers, and were being kept in prison at the same place where Powers was.
Richard received the rank of Airman First Class [A1C E-4] in February, 1962. The promotion acknowledged outstanding leadership, technical ability, and loyalty within the squadron and the Air Force. In July, 1963, while at Forbes AFB, Kansas, he was released from active duty in the Air Force. He had served 4 years and 9 months, with 2 years of foreign service. In October, 1964, he received his honorable discharge certificate.
After his discharge from the Air Force, he went to work for RCA Missile Tracking Station located at Patrick AFB, Florida. He was working on Ascension Island in November, 1967. At the tracking station his responsiblies were to track satellites, turn them on and off and collect information from them. In September of 1968 he was transferred from Ascension Island to Grand Bahama Island, still working for RCA Missile Tracking Station and still doing the same kind of work.
On December 7, 1968, Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, Dick Berger married Nancy Lovejoy. He met Nancy when she was in the Bahamas on vacation. They owned a sail boat while they lived in Freeport and they spent time sailing and scuba diving and enjoying the beach life.
Dick worked during the Apollo 9 launch in March, 1969, monitoring the flight. The RCA Missile Tracking Station on Grand Bahama Island closed in 1970 and they moved back to the states. They went to Michigan, where Dick went to work for Honeywell Metrology Labs. A year later General Motors made him an offer and he went to work at the General Motors Proving Grounds and worked there until his retirement.
Dick and Nancy also lived in Christainsted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. They also lived in Costa Rica for a while before making their permanent home in Fenton, Michigan.
Dick always had fun entertaining with his camera on an extension stick, his motorized bike plans and his '91 red Mazda Miata convertible sports car. He enjoyed going to car shows and taking pictures. He was an avid tennis player, along with his wife, Nancy. They enjoyed many hours of practice and participating in tennis tournaments around the states.
December of 2021 Dick and Nancy took a vacation trip to Freeport, Bahamas for their 53rd wedding anniversary. They visited the church where they had been married. Dick said "Of all the things that had changed there, the church survived the horrible hurricane Dorian that hit the Bahamas in September of 2019, and it remained the same as it was 53 years ago".
Richard Mark "Dick" Berger passed away peacefully on the morning of November 7, 2023 at Ascension Hospital in Flint, Michigan.
A memorial service is planned at First Presbyterian Church, 503 South Leroy St., Fenton, Michigan, on November 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Isidor and Josephine (Detterman) Berger; his brother, Clarence Berger and sister-in-law, Sophie (Svacina) Berger; and his mother & father-in-law, Mark and Verna (Michels) Lovejoy.
Those left to cherish his memory and mourn his death are his wife, the love of his life, Nancy (Lovejoy) Berger; his daughter and son-in-law, Darlene Berger and Paul Fortin; sisters and brothers-in-law, Joan and Marvin Nors and Andrea and Royce Walston; sister-in-law and husband, Ellynn and Richard Elsholz; and many nieces and nephews and other family and friends.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Richard Mark Berger (Dick), 85, of Fenton, Michigan, made his final exit from worldly existence on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. He died peacefully, surrounded by family, at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc, MI, of complications from multiple health issues.
Richard was born January 6, 1938, in West, Texas. A lifelong lover of the water, he trained as a lifeguard, and once rescued his younger sister, Joan, from risk of drowning in a neighbor's pool. Later he spent time scuba diving, snorkeling, and sailing. He dove everywhere he went, pulling up old anchors and catching sea bass and sheepshead on Ascension Island, catching scores of lobsters in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, and dozens of conchs in St. Croix, USVI.
His interest in aircraft and engineering began in childhood when he made model airplanes from balsa wood and silk, then painted them and installed little engines to fly them. He attended University of Texas at Austin in 1957 before enlisting in 1958 in the US Air Force, where he was selected for specialized technical training.
His military service took him to Seville, Spain; Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Topeka Kansas, where he met his first wife, the mother of his daughter, Darlene Berger. He was honorably discharged after nearly 5 years in October 1964.
Dick had a long career as an electronics engineer working for McDonnell Aircraft Corp, RCA, Honeywell, and General Motors. While working for RCA, Dick worked on Apollo 11, the first human spaceflight to land on the moon, monitoring the crew and spacecraft.
For many years, Dick adored playing tennis with his wife, Nancy Alice (Lovejoy) Berger, whom he met in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. He spent many hours perfecting his game and won many tournaments.
Dick loved dressing up in colorful socks and vests. He cultivated a man-about-town style with his canes and his bartending repertoire. He loved making and drinking Bourbon Old Fashioneds and Paper Airplanes.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his daughter, Darlene; son-in-law, Paul Fortin; sisters and brothers-in-law, Joan and Marvin Nors and Andrea and Royce Walston; sister-in-law and husband, Ellynn and Richard Elsholz; and many nieces and nephews and other family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Isidor and Josephine (Detterman) Berger; his brother, Clarence Berger and sister-in-law, Sophie (Svacina) Berger; and his mother; father-in-law, Mark and Verna (Michels) Lovejoy.
A memorial service is planned at First Presbyterian Church, 503 South Leroy St., Fenton, Michigan, on November 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm.
Detroit Cremation Society, 8253 S Saginaw St., Grand Blanc, Michigan 48439
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Richard Mark "Dick" Berger – Obituary
(January 6, 1938 – November 7, 2023)
Richard Mark "Dick" Berger was born at home in West, Texas on Thursday, January 6, 1938, the second son of Isidor and Josephine (Detterman) Berger. He was baptized three days later on Sunday, January 9, 1938, at St. Mary's Church of the Assumption in West by Rev. Francis J. Dobias. His baptismal sponsors were his Uncle and Aunt, Fred and Inez Detterman.
Richard had one other sibling at the time, his older brother Clarence Berger who was twelve years older than Richard, and boy did Richard throw a monkey wrench into his works. To be an only child for twelve years and then have to "put up with" a stinking little brother was the pits, but the two actually got on great together.
Richard went to school at St. Mary's Catholic School, in West from first through the eight grade. One of his favorite activities was participating in the band. He played coronet and trumpet, both with great ease. He was quite a natural and very musically inclined. The St. Mary's band also participated with the West High School band, playing, and marching at the Friday night football games.
Richard graduated from St. Mary's in May, 1952. In September he started ninth grade at West High School. Richard participated in the West High School band throughout his years there. He practiced regularly and you could hear that horn throughout the neighborhood. He could play taps and bring tears to your eyes.
After his graduation Richard and his family moved to Waco where his parents owned and operated Berger's Grocery & Market. Richard helped his dad in the store until the fall of 1957 when he attended University of Texas at Austin, Texas. In 1958 his Dad required surgery at Providence Hospital. Richard abandoned his studies at University of Texas to help his mother run the family owned business while his dad recuperated.
After his dad had recovered, Richard enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for four years. He was sent to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas for basic training. After completion of his initial course he was selected to attend the technical training school for Radio and Radar at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi for additional training. He graduated in August, 1959 from Department of Fixed Command. There were ten airmen in the class.
From Keesler AFB Richard went to Seville, Spain. He lived at a place called San Pueblo, which means "Holy People." It is a small place about 10 miles northeast of Seville.
His next assignment was in Saudi Arabia at the Airfield located at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia on the Persian Gulf. From there he was sent to Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas. His Squadron, the 55th Armament and Electronics Sq., was part of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. He and his squadron also spent several weeks in Birmingham, England.
While stationed at Forbes AFB, he worked on the U2 project from 1960 to 1963. He spent 6 months in Incirlik, Turkey in '62 to '63 working on the U2 project. Two of their reconnaissance pilots were shot down near the same time as Francis Gary Powers, and were being kept in prison at the same place where Powers was.
Richard received the rank of Airman First Class [A1C E-4] in February, 1962. The promotion acknowledged outstanding leadership, technical ability, and loyalty within the squadron and the Air Force. In July, 1963, while at Forbes AFB, Kansas, he was released from active duty in the Air Force. He had served 4 years and 9 months, with 2 years of foreign service. In October, 1964, he received his honorable discharge certificate.
After his discharge from the Air Force, he went to work for RCA Missile Tracking Station located at Patrick AFB, Florida. He was working on Ascension Island in November, 1967. At the tracking station his responsiblies were to track satellites, turn them on and off and collect information from them. In September of 1968 he was transferred from Ascension Island to Grand Bahama Island, still working for RCA Missile Tracking Station and still doing the same kind of work.
On December 7, 1968, Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, Dick Berger married Nancy Lovejoy. He met Nancy when she was in the Bahamas on vacation. They owned a sail boat while they lived in Freeport and they spent time sailing and scuba diving and enjoying the beach life.
Dick worked during the Apollo 9 launch in March, 1969, monitoring the flight. The RCA Missile Tracking Station on Grand Bahama Island closed in 1970 and they moved back to the states. They went to Michigan, where Dick went to work for Honeywell Metrology Labs. A year later General Motors made him an offer and he went to work at the General Motors Proving Grounds and worked there until his retirement.
Dick and Nancy also lived in Christainsted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. They also lived in Costa Rica for a while before making their permanent home in Fenton, Michigan.
Dick always had fun entertaining with his camera on an extension stick, his motorized bike plans and his '91 red Mazda Miata convertible sports car. He enjoyed going to car shows and taking pictures. He was an avid tennis player, along with his wife, Nancy. They enjoyed many hours of practice and participating in tennis tournaments around the states.
December of 2021 Dick and Nancy took a vacation trip to Freeport, Bahamas for their 53rd wedding anniversary. They visited the church where they had been married. Dick said "Of all the things that had changed there, the church survived the horrible hurricane Dorian that hit the Bahamas in September of 2019, and it remained the same as it was 53 years ago".
Richard Mark "Dick" Berger passed away peacefully on the morning of November 7, 2023 at Ascension Hospital in Flint, Michigan.
A memorial service is planned at First Presbyterian Church, 503 South Leroy St., Fenton, Michigan, on November 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Isidor and Josephine (Detterman) Berger; his brother, Clarence Berger and sister-in-law, Sophie (Svacina) Berger; and his mother & father-in-law, Mark and Verna (Michels) Lovejoy.
Those left to cherish his memory and mourn his death are his wife, the love of his life, Nancy (Lovejoy) Berger; his daughter and son-in-law, Darlene Berger and Paul Fortin; sisters and brothers-in-law, Joan and Marvin Nors and Andrea and Royce Walston; sister-in-law and husband, Ellynn and Richard Elsholz; and many nieces and nephews and other family and friends.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Richard Mark "Dick" Berger - Obituary
Richard Mark Berger (Dick), 85, of Fenton, Michigan, made his final exit from worldly existence on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. He died peacefully, surrounded by family, at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc, MI, of complications from multiple health issues.
Richard was born January 6, 1938, in West, Texas. A lifelong lover of the water, he trained as a lifeguard, and once rescued his younger sister, Joan, from risk of drowning in a neighbor's pool. Later he spent time scuba diving, snorkeling, and sailing. He dove everywhere he went, pulling up old anchors and catching sea bass and sheepshead on Ascension Island, catching scores of lobsters in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, and dozens of conchs in St. Croix, USVI.
His interest in aircraft and engineering began in childhood when he made model airplanes from balsa wood and silk, then painted them and installed little engines to fly them. He attended University of Texas at Austin in 1957 before enlisting in 1958 in the US Air Force, where he was selected for specialized technical training.
His military service took him to Seville, Spain; Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Topeka Kansas, where he met his first wife, the mother of his daughter, Darlene Berger. He was honorably discharged after nearly 5 years in October 1964.
Dick had a long career as an electronics engineer working for McDonnell Aircraft Corp, RCA, Honeywell, and General Motors. While working for RCA, Dick worked on Apollo 11, the first human spaceflight to land on the moon, monitoring the crew and spacecraft.
For many years, Dick adored playing tennis with his wife, Nancy Alice (Lovejoy) Berger, whom he met in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. He spent many hours perfecting his game and won many tournaments.
Dick loved dressing up in colorful socks and vests. He cultivated a man-about-town style with his canes and his bartending repertoire. He loved making and drinking Bourbon Old Fashioneds and Paper Airplanes.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his daughter, Darlene; son-in-law, Paul Fortin; sisters and brothers-in-law, Joan and Marvin Nors and Andrea and Royce Walston; sister-in-law and husband, Ellynn and Richard Elsholz; and many nieces and nephews and other family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Isidor and Josephine (Detterman) Berger; his brother, Clarence Berger and sister-in-law, Sophie (Svacina) Berger; and his mother; father-in-law, Mark and Verna (Michels) Lovejoy.
A memorial service is planned at First Presbyterian Church, 503 South Leroy St., Fenton, Michigan, on November 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm.
Detroit Cremation Society, 8253 S Saginaw St., Grand Blanc, Michigan 48439
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Richard Mark "Dick" Berger – Obituary
(January 6, 1938 – November 7, 2023)
Richard Mark "Dick" Berger was born at home in West, Texas on Thursday, January 6, 1938, the second son of Isidor and Josephine (Detterman) Berger. He was baptized three days later on Sunday, January 9, 1938, at St. Mary's Church of the Assumption in West by Rev. Francis J. Dobias. His baptismal sponsors were his Uncle and Aunt, Fred and Inez Detterman.
Richard had one other sibling at the time, his older brother Clarence Berger who was twelve years older than Richard, and boy did Richard throw a monkey wrench into his works. To be an only child for twelve years and then have to "put up with" a stinking little brother was the pits, but the two actually got on great together.
Richard went to school at St. Mary's Catholic School, in West from first through the eight grade. One of his favorite activities was participating in the band. He played coronet and trumpet, both with great ease. He was quite a natural and very musically inclined. The St. Mary's band also participated with the West High School band, playing, and marching at the Friday night football games.
Richard graduated from St. Mary's in May, 1952. In September he started ninth grade at West High School. Richard participated in the West High School band throughout his years there. He practiced regularly and you could hear that horn throughout the neighborhood. He could play taps and bring tears to your eyes.
After his graduation Richard and his family moved to Waco where his parents owned and operated Berger's Grocery & Market. Richard helped his dad in the store until the fall of 1957 when he attended University of Texas at Austin, Texas. In 1958 his Dad required surgery at Providence Hospital. Richard abandoned his studies at University of Texas to help his mother run the family owned business while his dad recuperated.
After his dad had recovered, Richard enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for four years. He was sent to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas for basic training. After completion of his initial course he was selected to attend the technical training school for Radio and Radar at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi for additional training. He graduated in August, 1959 from Department of Fixed Command. There were ten airmen in the class.
From Keesler AFB Richard went to Seville, Spain. He lived at a place called San Pueblo, which means "Holy People." It is a small place about 10 miles northeast of Seville.
His next assignment was in Saudi Arabia at the Airfield located at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia on the Persian Gulf. From there he was sent to Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas. His Squadron, the 55th Armament and Electronics Sq., was part of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. He and his squadron also spent several weeks in Birmingham, England.
While stationed at Forbes AFB, he worked on the U2 project from 1960 to 1963. He spent 6 months in Incirlik, Turkey in '62 to '63 working on the U2 project. Two of their reconnaissance pilots were shot down near the same time as Francis Gary Powers, and were being kept in prison at the same place where Powers was.
Richard received the rank of Airman First Class [A1C E-4] in February, 1962. The promotion acknowledged outstanding leadership, technical ability, and loyalty within the squadron and the Air Force. In July, 1963, while at Forbes AFB, Kansas, he was released from active duty in the Air Force. He had served 4 years and 9 months, with 2 years of foreign service. In October, 1964, he received his honorable discharge certificate.
After his discharge from the Air Force, he went to work for RCA Missile Tracking Station located at Patrick AFB, Florida. He was working on Ascension Island in November, 1967. At the tracking station his responsiblies were to track satellites, turn them on and off and collect information from them. In September of 1968 he was transferred from Ascension Island to Grand Bahama Island, still working for RCA Missile Tracking Station and still doing the same kind of work.
On December 7, 1968, Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, Dick Berger married Nancy Lovejoy. He met Nancy when she was in the Bahamas on vacation. They owned a sail boat while they lived in Freeport and they spent time sailing and scuba diving and enjoying the beach life.
Dick worked during the Apollo 9 launch in March, 1969, monitoring the flight. The RCA Missile Tracking Station on Grand Bahama Island closed in 1970 and they moved back to the states. They went to Michigan, where Dick went to work for Honeywell Metrology Labs. A year later General Motors made him an offer and he went to work at the General Motors Proving Grounds and worked there until his retirement.
Dick and Nancy also lived in Christainsted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. They also lived in Costa Rica for a while before making their permanent home in Fenton, Michigan.
Dick always had fun entertaining with his camera on an extension stick, his motorized bike plans and his '91 red Mazda Miata convertible sports car. He enjoyed going to car shows and taking pictures. He was an avid tennis player, along with his wife, Nancy. They enjoyed many hours of practice and participating in tennis tournaments around the states.
December of 2021 Dick and Nancy took a vacation trip to Freeport, Bahamas for their 53rd wedding anniversary. They visited the church where they had been married. Dick said "Of all the things that had changed there, the church survived the horrible hurricane Dorian that hit the Bahamas in September of 2019, and it remained the same as it was 53 years ago".
Richard Mark "Dick" Berger passed away peacefully on the morning of November 7, 2023 at Ascension Hospital in Flint, Michigan.
A memorial service is planned at First Presbyterian Church, 503 South Leroy St., Fenton, Michigan, on November 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Isidor and Josephine (Detterman) Berger; his brother, Clarence Berger and sister-in-law, Sophie (Svacina) Berger; and his mother & father-in-law, Mark and Verna (Michels) Lovejoy.
Those left to cherish his memory and mourn his death are his wife, the love of his life, Nancy (Lovejoy) Berger; his daughter and son-in-law, Darlene Berger and Paul Fortin; sisters and brothers-in-law, Joan and Marvin Nors and Andrea and Royce Walston; sister-in-law and husband, Ellynn and Richard Elsholz; and many nieces and nephews and other family and friends.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Richard Mark Berger (Dick), 85, of Fenton, Michigan, made his final exit from worldly existence on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. He died peacefully, surrounded by family, at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc, MI, of complications from multiple health issues.
Richard was born January 6, 1938, in West, Texas. A lifelong lover of the water, he trained as a lifeguard, and once rescued his younger sister, Joan, from risk of drowning in a neighbor's pool. Later he spent time scuba diving, snorkeling, and sailing. He dove everywhere he went, pulling up old anchors and catching sea bass and sheepshead on Ascension Island, catching scores of lobsters in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, and dozens of conchs in St. Croix, USVI.
His interest in aircraft and engineering began in childhood when he made model airplanes from balsa wood and silk, then painted them and installed little engines to fly them. He attended University of Texas at Austin in 1957 before enlisting in 1958 in the US Air Force, where he was selected for specialized technical training.
His military service took him to Seville, Spain; Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Topeka Kansas, where he met his first wife, the mother of his daughter, Darlene Berger. He was honorably discharged after nearly 5 years in October 1964.
Dick had a long career as an electronics engineer working for McDonnell Aircraft Corp, RCA, Honeywell, and General Motors. While working for RCA, Dick worked on Apollo 11, the first human spaceflight to land on the moon, monitoring the crew and spacecraft.
For many years, Dick adored playing tennis with his wife, Nancy Alice (Lovejoy) Berger, whom he met in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. He spent many hours perfecting his game and won many tournaments.
Dick loved dressing up in colorful socks and vests. He cultivated a man-about-town style with his canes and his bartending repertoire. He loved making and drinking Bourbon Old Fashioneds and Paper Airplanes.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his daughter, Darlene; son-in-law, Paul Fortin; sisters and brothers-in-law, Joan and Marvin Nors and Andrea and Royce Walston; sister-in-law and husband, Ellynn and Richard Elsholz; and many nieces and nephews and other family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Isidor and Josephine (Detterman) Berger; his brother, Clarence Berger and sister-in-law, Sophie (Svacina) Berger; and his mother; father-in-law, Mark and Verna (Michels) Lovejoy.
A memorial service is planned at First Presbyterian Church, 503 South Leroy St., Fenton, Michigan, on November 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm.
Detroit Cremation Society, 8253 S Saginaw St., Grand Blanc, Michigan 48439
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Richard Mark "Dick" Berger – Obituary
(January 6, 1938 – November 7, 2023)
Richard Mark "Dick" Berger was born at home in West, Texas on Thursday, January 6, 1938, the second son of Isidor and Josephine (Detterman) Berger. He was baptized three days later on Sunday, January 9, 1938, at St. Mary's Church of the Assumption in West by Rev. Francis J. Dobias. His baptismal sponsors were his Uncle and Aunt, Fred and Inez Detterman.
Richard had one other sibling at the time, his older brother Clarence Berger who was twelve years older than Richard, and boy did Richard throw a monkey wrench into his works. To be an only child for twelve years and then have to "put up with" a stinking little brother was the pits, but the two actually got on great together.
Richard went to school at St. Mary's Catholic School, in West from first through the eight grade. One of his favorite activities was participating in the band. He played coronet and trumpet, both with great ease. He was quite a natural and very musically inclined. The St. Mary's band also participated with the West High School band, playing, and marching at the Friday night football games.
Richard graduated from St. Mary's in May, 1952. In September he started ninth grade at West High School. Richard participated in the West High School band throughout his years there. He practiced regularly and you could hear that horn throughout the neighborhood. He could play taps and bring tears to your eyes.
After his graduation Richard and his family moved to Waco where his parents owned and operated Berger's Grocery & Market. Richard helped his dad in the store until the fall of 1957 when he attended University of Texas at Austin, Texas. In 1958 his Dad required surgery at Providence Hospital. Richard abandoned his studies at University of Texas to help his mother run the family owned business while his dad recuperated.
After his dad had recovered, Richard enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for four years. He was sent to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas for basic training. After completion of his initial course he was selected to attend the technical training school for Radio and Radar at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi for additional training. He graduated in August, 1959 from Department of Fixed Command. There were ten airmen in the class.
From Keesler AFB Richard went to Seville, Spain. He lived at a place called San Pueblo, which means "Holy People." It is a small place about 10 miles northeast of Seville.
His next assignment was in Saudi Arabia at the Airfield located at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia on the Persian Gulf. From there he was sent to Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas. His Squadron, the 55th Armament and Electronics Sq., was part of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. He and his squadron also spent several weeks in Birmingham, England.
While stationed at Forbes AFB, he worked on the U2 project from 1960 to 1963. He spent 6 months in Incirlik, Turkey in '62 to '63 working on the U2 project. Two of their reconnaissance pilots were shot down near the same time as Francis Gary Powers, and were being kept in prison at the same place where Powers was.
Richard received the rank of Airman First Class [A1C E-4] in February, 1962. The promotion acknowledged outstanding leadership, technical ability, and loyalty within the squadron and the Air Force. In July, 1963, while at Forbes AFB, Kansas, he was released from active duty in the Air Force. He had served 4 years and 9 months, with 2 years of foreign service. In October, 1964, he received his honorable discharge certificate.
After his discharge from the Air Force, he went to work for RCA Missile Tracking Station located at Patrick AFB, Florida. He was working on Ascension Island in November, 1967. At the tracking station his responsiblies were to track satellites, turn them on and off and collect information from them. In September of 1968 he was transferred from Ascension Island to Grand Bahama Island, still working for RCA Missile Tracking Station and still doing the same kind of work.
On December 7, 1968, Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, Dick Berger married Nancy Lovejoy. He met Nancy when she was in the Bahamas on vacation. They owned a sail boat while they lived in Freeport and they spent time sailing and scuba diving and enjoying the beach life.
Dick worked during the Apollo 9 launch in March, 1969, monitoring the flight. The RCA Missile Tracking Station on Grand Bahama Island closed in 1970 and they moved back to the states. They went to Michigan, where Dick went to work for Honeywell Metrology Labs. A year later General Motors made him an offer and he went to work at the General Motors Proving Grounds and worked there until his retirement.
Dick and Nancy also lived in Christainsted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. They also lived in Costa Rica for a while before making their permanent home in Fenton, Michigan.
Dick always had fun entertaining with his camera on an extension stick, his motorized bike plans and his '91 red Mazda Miata convertible sports car. He enjoyed going to car shows and taking pictures. He was an avid tennis player, along with his wife, Nancy. They enjoyed many hours of practice and participating in tennis tournaments around the states.
December of 2021 Dick and Nancy took a vacation trip to Freeport, Bahamas for their 53rd wedding anniversary. They visited the church where they had been married. Dick said "Of all the things that had changed there, the church survived the horrible hurricane Dorian that hit the Bahamas in September of 2019, and it remained the same as it was 53 years ago".
Richard Mark "Dick" Berger passed away peacefully on the morning of November 7, 2023 at Ascension Hospital in Flint, Michigan.
A memorial service is planned at First Presbyterian Church, 503 South Leroy St., Fenton, Michigan, on November 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Isidor and Josephine (Detterman) Berger; his brother, Clarence Berger and sister-in-law, Sophie (Svacina) Berger; and his mother & father-in-law, Mark and Verna (Michels) Lovejoy.
Those left to cherish his memory and mourn his death are his wife, the love of his life, Nancy (Lovejoy) Berger; his daughter and son-in-law, Darlene Berger and Paul Fortin; sisters and brothers-in-law, Joan and Marvin Nors and Andrea and Royce Walston; sister-in-law and husband, Ellynn and Richard Elsholz; and many nieces and nephews and other family and friends.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
