Mr. Gale Burton Berg

What started out as just another ordinary Friday of cleaning the house and grocery shopping quickly became the last day on earth for Gale Burton Berg who passed away on September 20, 2013. His parents, George and Sadie (Vesta) Berg welcomed Gale and his twin sister, Gladys (Erickson), August 17, 1920 on a farm near Esmond, Illinois. The twins joined their brothers Russell, Everett and George in a hardworking, closely-knit Norwegian family with numerous relatives on both sides. In those days, the farm boys did not go to high school because they were needed on the farm. That was one of his biggest regrets – no high school diploma. For a few years, he was a hired hand at various farms in the area. He left that life to work at the Wurlitzer Factory in DeKalb, IL until WWII. Once he completed his service in the Army Air Corps (1941-1945) and went back home, he met the love of his life, Mary Ellen (O'Malley). After a whirlwind courtship, they were married three months later in February 1946 in Harvard, IL. He was always a farmer at heart, plowing the fields, planting the crops and feeding the steers. For quite a while he held two full time jobs – farmer and carpenter. Although he left the farm, he remained a Union Carpenter for 55 years. Many of the projects he worked on are quite familiar, e.g., NIU, Fermi Lab, Disney World and Epcot Center. Working outside in sub-zero weather was the reason he moved the family to Florida 41 years ago -- to escape the cold of northern Illinois. Once they moved to Florida, he joined the Elks #1830 and later became an usher at St. Augustine Church for over 30 years. Gale Berg never met a stranger – he could talk to anyone about anything. In spite of his lack of formal education, he was intelligent and very well-read and loved the internet. After retiring, they enjoyed traveling all over the world, working in the yard, taking long walks in the neighborhood, initiating projects, and water aerobics at the YMCA with his beloved Mary Ellen right by his side. He was never idle and was always helping friends, neighbors and his family. We will forever cherish the fond memories and good times we had with him and will miss him so very much because he was such a larger than life presence who loved his family more than anything else in the world. Gale is survived by his loving wife of 67 years Mary Ellen (O’Malley) and his seven children: Howard (Irene), Alan (Veralee), Donna (Robert Burkholder), Dennis (Avis), Steve (Mary), Ron (Liz) and Diane (Marc Esterabadi). Grandchildren: Jason, Gayle, Christopher, Patrick (Stephanie) and Alyssa. Great Grandchildren: Zoe Ramirez and Hope Deaver. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, twin sister and his grandsons Andrew, Jarrett and Charles. Visitation will be held from 2-4 PM on Monday, September 23rd at DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory, 9001 N. Orlando Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751. The funeral will be held at St Augustine Church, 375 N. Sunset Drive, Casselberry, FL on Tuesday, September 24th at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow thereafter at All Faiths Cemetery, 1390 Park Drive, Casselberry, FL. Arrangements are entrusted to DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory, 9001 N. Orlando Avenue, Maitland, Florida 32751. (407) 695-CARE(2273).

Mr. Gale Burton Berg

August 17, 1920 - September 20, 2013