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Berger, Rev. Frederic K.

fred-bergerRev. Frederic Keith Berger, age 68, of Waupaca, was unexpectedly called to his Heavenly Home on Tuesday, September 27, 2016.

Frederic was born on July 22, 1948 in Bay City, MI to the late Elmer and Charlotte (Schroeder) Berger. On August 15 of that same year, he became a child of God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism administered at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bay City. On May 27, 1962, he publicly confessed his faith and was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bay City, where he also attended Lutheran elementary school. Later he went on to attend high school at Michigan Lutheran Seminary and graduated in 1966. He furthered his education at Northwestern College in Watertown, WI, graduating in 1970 and then Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI, graduating in 1974. On January 25, 1975, he was united in marriage to Ilene Perathaner in Milwaukee, WI. The Lord blessed this union with three daughters and one son. Rev. Berger faithfully served our Lord at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Hart, MI from 1974-1979, at Redeemer Lutheran in Council Bluffs, IA from 1979-1989, and then at Grace Lutheran Church in Sugar Bush, WI from 1990-2011.

The Lord called him out of this life to life eternal this past Tuesday at the age of 68 years, two months, and five days. He leaves to mourn his passing: his beloved wife, Ilene; children, Jennifer (Patrick) McCann of Appleton, Jeannette (Rev. Jason) Schulz of Cambridge, MN, Kathleen (Ryan) Wiechmann of Wausau, and Rev. Frederic (Stephanie) of Plymouth, NE; nine grandchildren: Callista, Jacob, Jedidiah, Tobijah, Gabriel, Nini, Andrew, Sawyer and Grace; two sisters, Helen Schultz of Juneau and Judith (Bruce) Bender of Fond du Lac, and numerous other relatives and friends. Frederic was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Gerald Berger and Rev. James Berger.

The funeral for Rev. Frederic Berger will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 30, 2016 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waupaca. Pastor Ron Siemers will be officiating. Visitation will take place from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service, directly at the church on Friday. Interment will be at Lakeside Memorial Cemetery in Waupaca.

This is the final paragraph of his sermon, found on his desk, which he had prepared to preach at the upcoming 100th anniversary of Grace Lutheran Church in Sugar Bush, this October 23rd:

What is the church all about? In one word, if you say “Christ” or “forgiveness” you’re not wrong. I’m going to say “salvation.” This is what Christ won for us, and what the forgiveness of our sins assures us of. Salvation. In a world where many churches seem to struggle to find a reason for being, may this church clearly see its reason for being here, and in fact continue more and more to be all about, salvation. 100 years. That’s a long time! No, not really. It’s not much more than our own “Life’s little day” here on earth. But oh, the heavenly life that Christ, the Savior and Lord of the church will grant us, when we leave the church militant, and enter the church triumphant. “When we’ve been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we’d first begun.” AMEN.

The Cline & Hanson Funeral Home in New London is serving the family. www.clinehansonfuneralhome.com

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