Clarence Berger

Clarence Maurice Berger, age 86, of McGregor, passed away late Sunday afternoon, April 15, 2012 at West Rest Haven in West, Texas. A rosary will be recited 6:00 p.m. Wednesday at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West, followed by a visitation until 8:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, with Rev. Ed Karasek and Rev. Anthony Odiong as celebrants. Military Graveside Rites will follow at St. Martin's Cemetery near Tours, conducted by the West Veterans Honor Guard. Mr. Berger was born January 10, 1926 at home in West, the oldest son of 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 November 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. He 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 and 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; four 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; a brother, Richard "Dick" Berger and wife Nancy of Fenton, MI; two sisters, Joan Nors and husband Marvin of Hewitt, and Andrea Walston and husband Royce of Waco; grandchildren, Teresa Johnson, Stuart Johnson, Robert Berger, Alicia Berger Williams and husband Scott, Celeste Berger, Noah Berger, Carrie Hartless, Allison Hartless, Carl Sinkule and wife Jolene, Jim Sinkule and wife Ashley, Taylor Christian, and Neil Christian; great grandchildren, Meagan, Lauren, Trent and Zachary Svacina, Lacey and Lindsey Sinkule, and Brent Sinkule; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Pallbearers are Teresa Johnson, Robert Berger, Carl Sinkule, Taylor Christian, Alicia Berger Williams, Stuart Johnson, Jim Sinkule, Carrie Hartless, Neil Christian, Allison Hartless, Celeste Berger, and Noah Berger. Memorials may be made to St. Eugene Catholic Church in McGregor.