Maxine V. Berger
Maxine Virginia Berger, age 92, passed away Friday March 21, 2025. She was born October 21,1932 in Dunn County, the daughter of George and Louise (Engeldinger) Kenley. Later, when her widowed mother remarried, she was adopted by Lawrence Amick.
Graduating from Dunn County School of Agriculture (Aggie) in 1950, she went on to earn her teaching degree from Dunn County Normal. Mom first taught at Twin Hills School, a one room schoolhouse with multiple grades. She then transitioned to St Joseph’s Catholic School. Later she substitute taught throughout Dunn County.
On August 6, 1952, Maxine married James Berger at St. Joseph’s Church. Mom and Dad loved each other deeply, spending 65 years together before Dad passed in 2017. As Mom said, “We were a great team.” She dedicated her life as a wife and mother of six children; the family was always first.
Building our home with beauty and love, she had an open door for her kids, grandkids, extended family, and friends. Mom was always ready for an adventure with the grandkids planning special “mystery trips,” bike rides, and joyful card games- -always topped off with ice cream for everyone. She was kind with a heart for the broken-hearted and had a quick wit that kept us smiling even in her final days.
Faithfully dedicated to St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Menomonie, Maxine was a teacher, Eucharist Minister, and choir member.
Maxine is survived by her six children, Rosemarie (David) Nowaskey, William (Vicki) Berger, Robert (Nancy) Berger, Jean Marie (John) Douglass, Thomas (Sheila) Berger, and Anna-Marie (Don) Young; her grandchildren, Stacy Weber, Stephanie Ghojallu, Talli Halpain, Cody Berger, Cassy Alban, Christopher Anderson, Ben Berger, Whitney Berger, Rachel Young, and James Young. She is also survived by step grandchildren, Peter Nowaskey, Jess Shipman, Amy Gilberts, Cory Giertz, Gerilyn Fowell, Jacob Clark, and Candace Arnold; 25 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ronald (Annabelle) Amick; one brother-in-law, Lorin (Roberta) Berger; and many extended family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, James; parents, adopted father, sister, Violet Seever; son-in-law, David Anderson; and best friends, Don and Lola Thompson and Don and Bonnie Stoll.
Memorial Service will be 11:00 AM Saturday April 5, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Menomonie with Rev. John Mano officiating. Burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Friday at Rhiel Funeral Home in Menomonie and one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.