Lester Berger

Lester D. Berger, 93, of Bremen, passed away peacefully at 4:44 pm, Monday, August 7, 2017 to be united with his beloved wife, Mary Jane Mochel, who had preceded him in death on December 25, 1994. Born on July 16, 1924 to Clara and Victor Berger, Lester grew up on the family farm, which he still owned. He graduated from Madison Township School in 1942. Lester was a proud WWII veteran of the U.S. Army and served from July 1944-April 1946. He was a Corporal of the 134th Regiment 35th Infantry Division in Central Europe. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Victory Medals. On June 27, 1948, he married Mary Jane Mochel and they lived in Woodland all 46 years of their married lives. In 2014, Lester became a resident at the Whitlock and recently moved to Signature Health Care, both in Bremen. Lester worked for Dodge Manufacturing Co. in Mishawaka for 32 years as a foreman before he retired. He also worked at 1st Source Bank in South Bend as a security guard for 10 years and was employed by the Whitlock for 24 years. He continued to farm and volunteered at the Whitlock for many years. Until last summer, he voluntarily mowed the lawn and cemetery grounds for St. John Unitec Church of Christ, of which he was a long time active member, serving in many capacities over the years. He became a volunteer for Hospice from 1995-2016. He visited with hospice patients, was an 11th hour volunteer and took part in the pinning ceremonies for military veterans. In 2005, Lester was awarded hospice’s John E. Krueger, M.D. Caring Award. Volunteering for hospice was a cause that Lester felt very strongly about because he wanted to give back to an organization that had touched his life when his wife became ill. Lester is survived by his brother in law and sister in law, Virgil and Marian Mochel of Wadsworth, OH; sister in law, Harriet Mochel (Richard Mochel, deceased) of Woodland; seven nieces and nephews and many great and great great nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 3:00-7:00 pm, Thursday, August 10, 2017 in Mishler Funeral Home, 2030 St Rd 331, Bremen. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, August 11, 2017 in St. John United Church of Christ, 63900 St Rd 331, South Bend, IN 46614, with one hour of visitation prior to the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors. The family prefers memorial to be made to St. John United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 35, Wyatt, IN 46595 or the Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.