Barbara Jane Berg
1938-2025
Barbara Jane Berg, 86, of Gilman, went to her place of eternal rest on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at home with her family by her side under the care of Hope Hospice. She was born on Aug. 18, 1938 in Marshfield, to the late Harris Graybill and Jane (Hopkins) Beck. Barbara moved to Arlington, Va., at an early age with her family where her father was in the Navy. The family later moved to Waukegan, Ill., where her father worked for Glidden Paint Company as a chemical engineer. Barb spent her childhood there and graduated from Waukegan High School; class of 1957. “Go Bulldogs.”
Barbara worked various jobs after High School and eventually at Abbot Laboratories of North Chicago where she met her husband who also worked there. On Aug. 5, 1967 she was united in marriage to Earl Berg Sr. The couple lived in Waukegan, Ill., and eventually moved to Gilman, Earl’s home area, and purchased a dairy farm in March, 1970.
This was quite an adjustment for Barbara, but resilient to her nature she adapted well. They began to raise their three beautiful children. Barbara worked various jobs after marriage including the Gilman Nursing Home and IKE international amongst others all while helping farm and raise her family full time.
Barbara thoroughly enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; there were many family dinners and holidays spent at her home. She also enjoyed sending birthday and thank you cards. So many cards, LOL, for some people most of their lives. Barbara enjoyed being a good friend and a good listener and going to the local coffee shop, a social butterfly of sorts. She said, “always wear your life jacket,” perhaps her way of saying to take care of yourself and each other.
Barbara will be sadly missed by her family and friends and her fur babies and everyone that knew her.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Earl Berg, Sr.; their two sons, Earl (Terri) Berg, Jr., and William Berg, both of Gilman; her grandchildren, Cody (Nicole) Kummer of Medford, Lakyn (John) Maki of Mauston and Earl Berg, III of Cumberland; her great grandchildren, Olivia Kristine Kummer, Mazie Marie Kummer and Aden Berg. She is further survived by her son-in-law, David Kummer, Jr., of Medford; her sisters-in-law, Darlene Walworth of Stetsonville, Clarice (Eugene) Hakes, Sr., of Cadott, Rita Jasmer of Medford; her brothers-in-law, David (Lynn) Berg of Palmer, Mass., Larry Berg of Thorp, Ken Lashbrook of Kingwood, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her parents-in-law, Elmer and Hazel (Olson) Berg; her beloved daughter, Kristine Kummer; her sister, Catherine Diane Lashbrook; her brothers-in-law, Ervin Walworth, Kenneth Jasmer, Alex Grendzinski, Perry Couillard, Laverne Raether and Roger Berg in infancy; and her sisters-in-law, Hilda Grendzinski, Linda Couillard and Beatrice Raether.
A visitation will take place on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at the Gilman funeral home from 4-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. service.
In lieu of flowers Barbara’s family asks that a monetary donation be made to your local Humane Society in her name. She was a huge advocate of taking care of our fur babies.
Paid Obituary 169438
