Ronald Clair Berg, 77
Sartell
Sept. 20, 1943 – Jan. 22, 2021
Ronald Clair Berg, 77, of Sartell died Jan. 22 after a post-surgery infection at the St. Cloud Hospital. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Williams Dingmann Funeral Home, St. Cloud.
Berg was born on Sept. 20, 1943, to the late Donald and Kathryn (Ries) Berg in Storm Lake, Iowa. He graduated from Storm Lake High School and went to business school in Omaha, Nebraska and Sioux City, Iowa. There he met and wed Grayce Van Gorp on May 3, 1963. To this union came two children: Kimberly Ann and David Mark.
Berg’s career was twofold. The first 22 years was spent with the JCPenney Co. There he had 10 store assignments and seven transfers in 22 years. He held many positions coming up in the ranks including operations manager. Not wanting to continue moving, he decided to leave JCPenney and purchase Walking Billboards Inc., which he operated for 20 years.
After selling Walking Billboards, Berg did business developments and partnerships. He also supported Grayce in her business throughout the years at GB & Co. He loved people and talked to everyone. Berg always made a point of saying he could count on his two hands the number of bad days he had at work. He had a passion for his work and was always up to the challenge.
Berg was a man of many interests, not wanting to get bored doing just nothing. He enjoyed traveling by Corvette with his wife to most of the states. Berg also loved his cabin up north and home in Rio Verde, Arizona where he and his wife entertained family and friends. He enjoyed playing golf, tennis and cribbage, especially if there was a wager involved. Berg also collected Corvettes and was very knowledgeable on the earlier years. He was a long time member of the National Corvette Restoration Society. Berg also loved 50s music and knew most of the songs and artists of that era. He loved making CDs and giving them to family, friends and classmates.
Berg believed in giving back to the community and was involved in several communities with the Chamber of Commerce, The United Way and heading up fundraising efforts in several JCPenney stores as well as serving on the United Way Board and chairing the personnel committee and family services committee. He also served as an officer in several Corvette clubs, was a long time Boy Scout fundraiser and Boys & Girls Club Boards of Trustee member.
Berg also felt SO blessed to have been born in the United States of America in this particular time frame. He never took anything for granted, especially our freedoms and he always felt people should never forget their humble beginnings and never rise to think they were ever better than anyone else. These were his maxims he tried to live up to each day, along with playing fair, always playing to win and never giving up. He always hoped he could make a small difference in his time on earth. He believed in P.M.A., positive mental attitude.
He is preceded in death by his son, David Mark; and parents, Donald and Kathryn Berg.
Survivors include the following: his wife; daughter, Kimberly (Frank Mazzacano); and granddaughter, Paige Clair Hoghaug, all of Sartell; and sister, Merridee Matson.
