Herbert "Shorty" Berg
February 08, 1929 - October 16, 2020
Obituary
STOUGHTON - Herbert “Shorty” Berg, age 91, of Stoughton, passed away on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, peacefully at home, dedicated He was born on Feb. 8, 1929, in Utica, the son of Fred and Mary (Rockney) Berg. Shorty and Sharon where members of the West Koshkonong Lutheran Church.
At an early age, Shorty worked in tobacco fields and around the farm. As one of the first employees, Shorty started his career at Stoughton Trailer as a supervisor in 1961. He eventually retired 31 years later in 1992.
Shorty absolutely loved the outdoors. Some of his favorite activities were hunting pheasant and other small game, fishing “for anything that would bite,” feeding and observing the wild birds and squirrels and gardening. He took great pride in his vegetables and flowers in the yard.
Shorty played a lot of horseshoe and cards, and often went gambling or bowling with the “Utica Boys.” You would frequently find him cheering on the Utica Home Talent at their baseball games. In the summer, Shorty enjoyed spending time with his beloved grandchildren, Jason and Amanda Barton, his pride and joy. Some of the best memories of his life (and theirs) were fostered on these summer-long visits each year.
Shorty is survived by his loving wife, Sharon Berg; his beloved canine friend, Penelope “Penny” Berg; son, Delanie Berg; stepdaughter, Kathy (Bill) Mauldin; granddaughter, Amanda Barton; grandson, Jason (Ali) Barton; three great-grandchildren, Matthew, Samantha and Thomas Barton; sister-in-law, Linda Shaw; as well as many special nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Mary (Rockney) Berg; sisters, Thressa (Stanley) Burthe, and Alverta (Giles) Olson; brothers, Merle (Lola) Berg and Robert “Bobby” Berg; brothers-in-law, Gordy Shaw and Duane Nieses; and sister-in-law, Ardell Nieses.
Due to the pandemic, a private service for family and close friends will be held at West Koshkonong Lutheran Church.
A special thank you to Agrace HospiceCare for the excellent hands-on care during this difficult time. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be gifted to Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg, WI 53711 or agrace.org/donate or to West Koshkonong Lutheran Church, 1911 Koshkonong Road, Stoughton, WI 53589. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Hwy. 51 N. at Jackson St.
(608) 873-4590
Events
Funeral Service
Wed Oct 21, 2020 @ 11:00 AM CDT
West Koshkonong Lutheran Church • 1911 Koshkonong Rd, Stoughton, WI 53589
Graveside
Wed Oct 21, 2020 @ 11:45 AM CDT
West Koshkonong Lutheran Cemetery • -, Stoughton, WI 53589
Photos
No photos of Herbert have been shared yet.
Memories
SB
Steve Barton
Other •
Shorty was a wonderful person, Father in Law and especially Grandfather to the kids. I have always considered him my role model of what a Grandfather should be. Jason and Amanda enjoyed month long summer vacations with “Papa & Nana Shorty” playing yard sports, fishing and visiting Wisconsin family. Shorty and Sharon drove the nearly 1000 miles twice a year to visit us in Georgia. Life well lived my friend. Steve Barton
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Beverly Thompson
Other •
The last of the kind and gracious Berg men, or as my Dad , Merle called him “my little baby brother”. So many memories of Uncle Shorty - watching Maverick with him on Sunday nights (Brett was our favorite), his merciless teasing, his competitiveness whether throwing horseshoes or playing a ball game with us, the half dollars he would give me when I lost a tooth, even when he knew I was showing him the same tooth over and over. He was definitely one of a kind and will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him. R.I.P. Uncle Shorty.
AD
Audrey DeBeir
Other •
As a kid, we loved playing softball up at Grandpa Berg's. When we asked Shorty to play, his first response was "only if I get to bat all the time". Of course that didn't happen. If you were lucky enough to be on his team, he would do things like move the base closer if he thought you might not make it there safely. Or if he thought you weren't running fast enough, he would just pick us up and run us around the bases. If you were on the opposing team, watch out. As you were running as fast as you possibly could towards a base, he would pick up the base and run away with it, leaving us to wonder what the heck to do. We spent many Sunday afternoons and evenings playing ball, and if a window on the porch was accidently broken, Grandpa took it in stride. Probably my favorite memory, though, was the daily calls he made to my Dad after Mom died and Dad was home alone. He loved hearing from his "Baby Brother". Rest in peace, Shorty. You are one of a kind. Audrey DeBeir
TS
Tribute Store
Other •
Deepest sympathies,
JB
June Berg Bunting
Other •
All of the Berg girls spent a lot of time with their Uncle Shorty. We have many memories of our Sunday afternoons and Sunday suppers there. One of my personal favorite memories was when Shorty first started working at Stoughton Cab and Body. He would walk to our house (only a block away) during his lunch break to play badminton in the back yard with me. We did this for years during summer vacation while I was in Junior High and High School. We didn't have a net and we "technically" did not keep score---except in Shorty's head. We volleyed that birdie back and forth hundreds of times before one of us missed it or Shorty had to go back to work. Both of us ended up on the ground many times. He always claimed to be the winner. I also remember Shorty enjoying the Christmas holiday season. He made a huge deal out of hanging up his "hip boot" instead of a stocking like the rest of us did. He said that he had been so good during the year that he deserved to get lots of gifts from Santa. We were so young and naive that we believed it when he told us that his hip boot was full on Christmas morning. Rest in peace Shorty.