Judy Ann Berg

Judith Ann (Meek) Berg died, in Christ, on Tuesday, December 23, at the JourneyCare Hospice in Barrington, Illinois.

Judy was born May 14, 1940 in Danville, Illinois, the daughter of Paul & Edith (Olson) Meek. She grew up in Danville, attending and graduating from Collette Grade School and Danville High School. Her family were members of the Church of Christ and Judy was baptized into Christ during her preteens. Following high school, Judy entered the University of Illinois and graduated from there with a degree in speech & hearing therapy. She then used her education by working with elementary and high school students in the St. Louis County public schools for two years, then, following her marriage, worked a similar year in the schools of Urbana, Illinois - and finally (due to Hank’s schedule as a student Pastor) another year back in the St. Louis County schools.

On June 16th of 1963 Judy was united in Marriage to Henry F. (Hank) Berg. Now being married to Hank meant that already she had a second career – Judy served faithfully and admirably as “the Pastor’s wife” in four different congregations – Our Savior in Goshen, Indiana; Good Shepherd in Duncan, Oklahoma; Peace in Thomasboro, Illinois; and Shepherd of the Hills in Bean Blossom, Indiana. Their union, which lasted (as they had vowed) until Judy’s death nearly 63 years later, produced four children – Mitch, Molly (Mrs. Craig Musgrove), Matt (& Missy), and Maria (Mrs. Randy Wiggs). Through her children and their spouses, Judy was blessed with 8 grandchildren – Allie, Emily, Ethan, Ellie, Anna, Olivia, Audon, and Nora – AND her 8 grandchildren were blessed with a wonderfully kind, caring, and loving grandmother.

After her family began growing, Judy put her Therapy Career aside to devote herself to being a full-time stay-at-home mom. She excelled at it and thrived on it. Her four grown children and the quality of their lives bear strong testimony to that. However, as many women know, raising children can take a lot out of you – and so Judy returned to school, this time to become a nurse – and ultimately a school nurse.

Judy worked at that career for about 17 years, until both she and Hank retired in 2000. In retirement Judy adopted yet another career when she became the owner of a small bookstore in Nashville, in the heart of beautiful Brown County, Indiana. She did this - and thoroughly loved it – and the growing bunch of grandchildren loved to visit Granny in Brown County and “help her run her bookstore.” However, since Matt and Maria were both here, AND each of them had 3 of Grandma’s “little lovebugs,” the pull of Crystal Lake began to win out over Brown County and the bookstore.

So Judy & Hank left Brown County and moved to Crystal Lake in 2015. In the years since their move to CL, they have thoroughly enjoyed attending worship with their kids and grandkids, and watching or participating in other facets of their busy lives. . . . . . And now . . . . . these all remain – to grieve deeply, yes – but especially to remember and celebrate the life of this very dear lady.

Judy is also survived by her sister Sue (Mrs. Gordon “Doc” Means) and their 3 daughters, Judy’s nieces, Erin, Megan, and Zoe – and their families.

Through her baptism into Jesus Christ, Judy was an adopted daughter of our Heavenly Father – and was, therefore, a member of the Holy Christian Church, and an heir of the promised gift of eternal life.

Judy’s mortal remains have been cremated – and upon Hank’s death and subsequent cremation, will be blended with his so that together they will await the sure and certain return of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the resurrection to the life eternal. Judy lived, and died, as what she knew herself to be – a beloved daughter of her loving and forgiving Heavenly Father. In that faith and hope we entrust to the loving care of the Lord our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend – and sister in Christ, Judy Berg.

May the Good Lord comfort, with the assurance of the forgiveness of sins and the promise of the resurrection to life eternal, all those who grieve at Judy’s death.

Hank & Judy’s epitaph is to be an emendation of the line, from a Robert Browning poem, “Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.” The epitaph: “Wait for Him next to me; the best is yet to be.”

The Visitation and Funeral Service for Judy Berg

Saturday, January 3

Immanuel Lutheran Church

300 South Pathway Court

Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

Visitation from 10:00-12:00pm

Funeral Service 12:00-1:00

Gathering and Fellowship at The Well (church lobby area) immediately following service until 3:00

A Celebration of Life will also be scheduled at a later time. Location, date and time TBD.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Judy’s memory may be made to Lutheran World Relief or Immanuel Lutheran Church for a tree to be planted on church grounds.