John Eldon Berg

John Berg, age 92 of Mankato passed away Sunday, November 8, 2015 at Keystone Living Community. Memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Friday at Centenary United Methodist Church with Rev. Michelle Hargrave officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Friday at church. Burial with military honors will be 1 p.m. Saturday in Worthington Cemetery, Worthington, MN. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Mankato Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Services for the Blind Talking Books, Cententary United Methodist Church. Mankato Mortuary is assisting with arrangements. John was born January 3, 1923 in Worthington to John and Anna (Johnson) Berg. He graduated from Worthington High School and received the Eagle Scout award in 1940. John attended Worthington Junior College and the University of Minnesota. He obtained his Masters degree at the University of MN and continued his studies at the University of Colorado, Mankato State University, and Interlochen, Michigan. John enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and served as 1st Lt., B24 bomber pilot, 15th Air Force, WWII European Theater, Italy, with 35 missions. He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and honorably discharged on December 1, 1945. John was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Halvorson on September 19, 1944 and they had four children, Kristine, Raina, John R., and Virginia. Mary Ellen passed away on September 12, 1965. He was united in marriage to Ramona Thompson on June 5, 1969 and added four step-children to his family, Paul, Ellyce, Judith, and John. Ramona passed away on April 6, 2014. John taught music for 38 years. He started in Welcome, went on to Truman, Redwood Falls, and retired after 28 years in Mankato, with his last position as band director for Mankato East High School. He was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church, American Legion, Kiwanis, Mankato Golf Club, and the Bullshippers Coffee Group. He was a past director of the Elks Municipal Band, a charter member of ASBDA (American School Band Directors Association) and played french horn with the Mankato Symphony for 35 years. John received the Award of Harmony in 2008. He was active as a music adjudicator for concert, solo, ensemble, and marching bands. He served 12 years on the Mankato City Council and dedicated time to the library board, Housing Authority, Charter Commission, and Airport Commission. John enjoyed family vacations at the lake, teaching and playing bridge and card games, fishing, audio books, golf, travel and classical music concerts. He valued his lifelong friends and new acquaintances at Keystone Community. Survivors include his children, Kris Bennett, Minneapolis, Raina Suzanne (Nancy) Sinclair, Brooklyn Park, John R. (Anna) Berg, Birchwood Village, Ginna (Eric) Marston, Plymouth; step-children, Paul (Jere) Thompson, Excelsior, Ellyce Thompson, St. Paul, Judith (Steve) Phifer, Two Harbors, John (Dawn) Thompson, Mankato; ten grandchildren, Jason, Allyson, Ben, Megan, Katy, Matt, Paige, Chris, Robert, and Rachel; four great-grandchildren; other family, including cousins in Sweden. Preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Mary Ellen, second wife, Ramona, grandson, Aaron Fodness, and son-in-law, Sean Flynn.