Robert "Bob" D. Berg

Robert D. Berg, age 75, of Eau Claire, passed away on October 19, 2023, at home.   Bob was born December 28, 1947, to Carl and Agnes (Johnson) Berg.  He grew up in Strum, Wisconsin, graduating from Eleva-Strum Central High School in 1966.  Bob graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1970 with majors in Psychology and Sociology.  He married Roxanne Semingson on May 23, 1970.

Bob served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1973.  Following that he worked as a counselor for the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Outreach Program, a program designed to help Vietnam era veterans.  Bob graduated from Luther Theological Seminary-St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1979, and served as a pastor at Trinity Lutheran in Kintyre, North Dakota and St. Andrew’s Lutheran in Zeeland, North Dakota (1979-1982); Trinity Lutheran in Cumberland, Wisconsin and Georgetown Lutheran in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin (1982-1990); and Chetek Lutheran in Chetek, Wisconsin (1990-1995).   He was elected Bishop of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin in 1995 and served two terms until 2007.   He then received a call as Assistant to the President/CEO of Portico Benefit Services, responsible for health and retirement plans of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (2007-2013).  He later served as an interim bishop in the East Central Synod of Wisconsin and interim and half-time Pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church, Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

Bob served on many church-related boards including, Board of Regents at St. Olaf and Augsburg Colleges in Minnesota, and Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, Arizona.  He helped to establish and lead the companion synod relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi, Africa, creating and supporting feeding centers for orphans, providing bed nets to fight Malaria, clean water wells, medical clinics, mobile health clinics, church buildings, parsonages, and motor and pedal bikes for clergy.

Bob was a member of the American Legion and Lions Club.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, clock repair, wood working, and collecting and restoring antiques. 

He is survived by his wife, Roxie; daughters Missy (Lee) Herek and Michelle (Ricardo) Garay; grandchildren Emma Herek, Claire Herek, Rico (Celeste) Garay, and Lauren Garay; sister Carol (Stuart) Dodge; German exchange daughter Regina Leurs; brother-in-law Ron Semingson; sisters-in-law Inez Semingson, Lois (Jim) Anderson, Donna Peterson, and Karen Kees.  He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.    

He is preceded in death by his parents Carl and Agnes Berg; in-laws Odin and Ruth Semingson; brothers-in-law Eugene Semingson, Duane Peterson, and Dick Kees, and sister-in-law Jane Semingson.  

A visitation will be held on Thursday, October 26, 2023, from 3:00-7:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1314 E Lexington Blvd, Eau Claire, WI 54701. Visitation time will continue Friday, October 27, 2023 from 9:30 AM until the time of the funeral service.  A funeral service will be held on Friday October 27, 2023, 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.  The burial with military honors will take place at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in Strum, at 4 PM.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the Emma and Claire Malawi Clean Water Well Fund (made out to the Northwest Synod of WI), Northwest Synod of Wisconsin ministries or Trinity Lutheran Church, Eau Claire.

Friends and family may offer condolences online at www.hulkefamilyfh.com.

Hulke Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 3209 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701 is assisting the family with the arrangements.  

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