Mr. Berger was born Jan. 10, 1926, at home in West, the oldest son of the four children of Isidor Frank and Josephine (Detterman) Berger. Clarence grew up in West and attended St. Mary's School and West High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 9, 1943. Clarence was discharged on April 1, 1946, from Camp Wallis, near Corpus Christi. When he came home he went to work in the West Textile Mill where he met the love of his life, Sophie Agnes Svacina. They were married on Nov. 11, 1946, at Nativity of the B.V.M. Catholic Church in Penelope.
Clarence and Sophie lived in West, where their first three children, Rosanne, Edward and Sylvia, were born. On July 9, 1954, they moved their family to McGregor, where they purchased a home on South Adams Street. Their two youngest children, Margaret and Barbie, were born after the move to McGregor, where he lived for 54 years.
Clarence and Sophie were Catholics and were instrumental in bringing the Catholic members of the community together in 1959 to help form and build St. Eugene Catholic Church in McGregor. Clarence was on temporary lay-off at this time, so he went to work setting forms for the foundation of the church. He was a lector at St. Eugene and was very involved in all projects and fundraisers. Clarence was a master carpenter, until he began work at General Tire & Rubber Company where he worked until he retired after 25 years of service.
He loved making and flying model airplanes, kept a coin collection, and was a ham radio operator. At one time he was an active member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), but he dropped out when he lost interest and purchased his first PC, a Commodore 64.
Clarence spent hours working formulas and midi files on his computer, was a skilled mathematician and enjoyed Sudoku. He also enjoyed making custom wooden furniture. Most of all he loved taking his family to Tonkawa Park in Crawford where he taught each of his children to swim and enjoy life. He kept a large garden at his home in McGregor and enjoyed the bounty of fresh vegetables it provided, which he shared with family and friends.
Clarence was preceded in death by his wife, Sophie; his parents; his paternal grandparents, John T. and Mary (Wimmer) Berger; his maternal grandparents, Martin and Mary (Miller) Detterman; a grandson, Daniel Paul Hartless; and daughter-in-law, Virginia Ann (Leahey) Berger.
Survivors include a son, Edward J. Berger, of Bedford; daughters, Rosanne Lockhart and husband, Jim, of Milford, Sylvia Hartless and husband, Don, of Arlington, Margaret Sinkule and husband, Thomas, of Birome, and Barbara "Barbie" Christian and husband, David, of China Spring; brother, Richard "Dick" Berger and wife, Nancy, of Fenton, Mich.; sisters, Joan Nors and husband, Marvin, of Hewitt, and Andrea Walston and husband, Royce, of Waco; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Memorials may be made to St. Eugene Catholic Church in McGregor
Waco Tribune Herald on April 17, 2012
Mr. Berger was born Jan. 10, 1926, at home in West, the oldest son of the four children of Isidor Frank and Josephine (Detterman) Berger. Clarence grew up in West and attended St. Mary's School and West High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 9, 1943. Clarence was discharged on April 1, 1946, from Camp Wallis, near Corpus Christi. When he came home he went to work in the West Textile Mill where he met the love of his life, Sophie Agnes Svacina. They were married on Nov. 11, 1946, at Nativity of the B.V.M. Catholic Church in Penelope.
Clarence and Sophie lived in West, where their first three children, Rosanne, Edward and Sylvia, were born. On July 9, 1954, they moved their family to McGregor, where they purchased a home on South Adams Street. Their two youngest children, Margaret and Barbie, were born after the move to McGregor, where he lived for 54 years.
Clarence and Sophie were Catholics and were instrumental in bringing the Catholic members of the community together in 1959 to help form and build St. Eugene Catholic Church in McGregor. Clarence was on temporary lay-off at this time, so he went to work setting forms for the foundation of the church. He was a lector at St. Eugene and was very involved in all projects and fundraisers. Clarence was a master carpenter, until he began work at General Tire & Rubber Company where he worked until he retired after 25 years of service.
He loved making and flying model airplanes, kept a coin collection, and was a ham radio operator. At one time he was an active member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), but he dropped out when he lost interest and purchased his first PC, a Commodore 64.
Clarence spent hours working formulas and midi files on his computer, was a skilled mathematician and enjoyed Sudoku. He also enjoyed making custom wooden furniture. Most of all he loved taking his family to Tonkawa Park in Crawford where he taught each of his children to swim and enjoy life. He kept a large garden at his home in McGregor and enjoyed the bounty of fresh vegetables it provided, which he shared with family and friends.
Clarence was preceded in death by his wife, Sophie; his parents; his paternal grandparents, John T. and Mary (Wimmer) Berger; his maternal grandparents, Martin and Mary (Miller) Detterman; a grandson, Daniel Paul Hartless; and daughter-in-law, Virginia Ann (Leahey) Berger.
Survivors include a son, Edward J. Berger, of Bedford; daughters, Rosanne Lockhart and husband, Jim, of Milford, Sylvia Hartless and husband, Don, of Arlington, Margaret Sinkule and husband, Thomas, of Birome, and Barbara "Barbie" Christian and husband, David, of China Spring; brother, Richard "Dick" Berger and wife, Nancy, of Fenton, Mich.; sisters, Joan Nors and husband, Marvin, of Hewitt, and Andrea Walston and husband, Royce, of Waco; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Memorials may be made to St. Eugene Catholic Church in McGregor
Waco Tribune Herald on April 17, 2012
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