The Rev. Robert F. Berger KHS

ELYSBURG - The Rev. (Col.) Robert F. Berger, KHS, died at his family home Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. He was a priest of the Diocese of Harrisburg.

He was born Aug. 30, 1935, in Locust Gap, a son of the late George Francis and Josephine (Heiser) Berger.

He graduated from St. Charles College, Catonsville, Maryland, in 1956, and from St. Charles Seminary, Overbrook, and was ordained May 19, 1962, by the Most Rev. George Leach. He also was a graduate of Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Father Berger earned three master's degrees, one in psychology and two in theology and wrote training manuals for the first class of permanent deacons in the diocese and another for marital counseling.

Throughout his priesthood, his various parish assignments in the diocese were as assistant pastor at Good Shepherd, Camp Hill; St Mary's, Lebanon; St Francis Xavier, Gettysburg, and pastor at Mary, Gate of Heaven, Myerstown.

He entered the Pennsylvania National Guard and then served on active duty as a chaplain from 1967 to 1993. In January 1993, he was appointed pastor of Mary, Gate of Heaven Parish until his retirement Jan. 31, 2017.

Father Berger was an avid reader who did extensive research for the more than 600 thought-provoking sermons he printed and filed for future use. He founded the World War II Chaplains Memorial Foundation to bring attention to the important roles of chaplains and to preserve their stories, artifacts and photos, including being involved in the effort to have Chaplain Ignatius Maternowski promoted to sainthood for his selfless actions on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

While in the chaplain corps, he advanced from the rank of lieutenant to that of colonel. He served at Fort Bragg and Vietnam with 173rd Airborne Brigade, in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division and in Germany with the 3rd Infantry Division; at Fort Benning and Fort Bliss and was post chaplain at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Stewart. His military awards include the Bronze Star (2nd OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (6th OLC), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2nd OLC), Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Unit Citation of the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

He was a life member to the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Member of the Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree. Selected as Knight of the Year, Mary Gate of Heaven and State Exemplification Honoree 2016. He was given the ecclesiastical honor of Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre (KHS) in Jerusalem by Cardinal Edwin O'Brien.

He is survived by his sister, Kathleen Ferdock, of Bloomsburg; his brother, Francis, of Elysburg; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George Francis and Josephine; his sister, Sister Patricia Ann; and nephew, Robert Christian.

BERGER - The Rev. (Col.) Robert F. Berger, KHS, Elysburg. A Mass of Transferal will be offered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, 47 S. Market St., Mount Carmel, at 7 p.m. Tuesday with the Very Rev. Jonathan P. Sawicki, VF, as celebrant. Father will be present at the church from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Tuesday for private prayer. A rosary will be said at 6 p.m. for Father's repose followed by Mass at 7 p.m. After Mass, Father will remain for private prayer until 9 p.m. A funeral Mass, a Latin High Mass, will be celebrated by invitation only at the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in Elysburg, on at 11 a.m. Wednesday with burial following at All Saints Cemetery in Elysburg. Live streaming of both services will be available through the YouTube link for Father Frank Karwacki's page at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt-u-DeduO_YKu_DE-M4-Ig?view_as=subscriber Father Robert's Mass will be listed 10 minutes prior to start time under current Masses or by logging into youtube.com and searching Rev. Robert F. Berger 10 minutes prior to service. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Father Berger's name may be sent to Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Monastery, 430 Monastery Road., Elysburg 17824, or the WWII Chaplains Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 67, Elysburg 17824. Arrangements are in care of C. J. Lucas Funeral Home Inc., 27 N. Vine St., Mount Carmel, C. J. Lucas IV, supervisor. To send condolences to the family or view the live stream of the Masses, go to www.cjlucasfuneralhome.com.