Jeannette Louise Berg

Jeannette Louise Berg, age 84 of Blanchardville died on Monday, June 23, 2014 at her home in Blanchardville. Jeannette was born on September 3, 1929 in Blanchard Township to John and Louise (Schraepfer) Gilbertson. She grew up on the family farm just outside of Blanchardville, went to the Blanchardville grade school and graduated from the Blanchardville High School in 1947. She went to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, majoring in physical education and social sciences, and graduated in 1951. Jeannette taught physical education in Mt. Horeb, Hollandale and Blanchardville. On August 9, 1952, she was married in the Blanchardville Lutheran Church to Byron Berg. Her mother died just 11 days after her wedding. For most of their married life, Byron and Jeannette lived on the family farm that she grew up on. After leaving teaching, she farmed with Byron and raised their children. She was a very loving and supportive wife to Byron and mother to her children. Jeannette was an active member of the Blanchardville Lutheran Church and the Women of the ELCA. She was also a member of the Blanchardville Legion Auxiliary. Jeannette was very active in starting and helping to run the Pecatonica Area Food Pantry from 1986 to 2009. She was a member of the Blanchardville Garden Club and a Lutheran Brotherhood/Thrivent Representative. Jeannette was also a member of the Blanchardville Dobson-Johnson American Legion Post Auxiliary, and was seen by many selling poppies every year for the Auxiliary to support our troops. She was also an avid Pecatonica athletics and Blanchardville Bullets fan.

Jeannette is survived by a son, Michael (Diane) Berg of Blanchardville; two daughters, Karin (Larry) Ziemienski of Milwaukee, and Julie (Robert) MacSwain of Stillwater, MN; seven grandchildren, Amanda (Andy) Hughes of Monroe, Tiffany (Andy) Bethke of Hollandale, and Hailey, Kelsey and Taylor Berg of Blanchardville, Daniel and Raquel MacSwain; and 7 great-grandchildren, Ashlynd, Audrey, Avery, Abram and Anna Hughes and Tucker and Parker Bethke, with her 8th great grand child, baby Bethke due this fall. Jeannette was preceded in death by her husband, Byron on May 12, 2002, a son John in infancy, and her parents, John and Louisa Gilbertson.

A visitation will be held on Friday evening, June 27, 2014 from 4:00 until 9:00 PM at the Blanchardville Lutheran Church in Blanchardville. A funeral service will be held at the church on Saturday morning, June 28, 2014 at 11:00 AM. Rev. Craig Jan-McMahon of the Pecatonica Lutheran Parish will officiate. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery in Blanchardville. The Saether Funeral Home in Blanchardville is assisting the family. Online memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.saetherfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Blanchardville Lutheran Church, the Pecatonica Area Food Pantry, and/or to bring a canned food item to Jeannette’s visitation or funeral to support the food pantry Jeannette worked so hard for.