Nelly Henriette Berger

Berger, Nelly Henriette

Nelly Henriette (nee Dufrane) Berger, age 91, passed away on September 2, 2017 at the Bethel Home. On November 10, 1925, Nelly was born to Mariette Beugnies and Auguste Dufrane in Haine St. Pierre, Belgium. Nelly was an inquisitive child who started kindergarten at the age of three. Her love of learning never stopped as she continually was at the top of her class. Always wanting to go to college, Nelly attended UW-O at the age of 70, to learn to speak German. Her love of words would often find students at her dining room table being tutored in French, or a friend playing a heated game of Scrabble with her.

At the end of WWII, serving as an interpreter for the American Army, Nelly met and American soldier who became the love of her life, Ralph Berger. At the end of 1946, this brave twenty-one year old left family and friends to follow her and Ralph's dream. She traveled alone by ship and train from Belgium to Oshkosh to marry on the "coldest day of the year", January 4, 1947, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oshkosh. They were blessed with fifty-three years of marriage.

Nelly had two daughters, Paulette and Gwen. She loved raising them, teaching them what she knew, and spending many late nights sewing and knitting for them. As grandchildren and great-grandchildren arrived, she continued to show her love in these ways, and well as baking gallettes, Christmas log, and making truffles for them. She always made friends wherever she went. Friendships developed from many sources, including "The War Brides Club", her neighborhood, church, college classes, French club, and work. Nelly worked at Mueller Potter Drug on Main Street and in the postal station for 30 plus years, Shoenbergers Bakery and Oshkosh Truck Corp.

Nelly is survived by her daughter, Paulette (Jim) Rasmussen and their sons, Jeff (Allison Nash) and his daughters, Syndel and Lexi, and Scott; daughter, Gwen Boyce and her children, Katie (Jason) Selby and their sons, Miles and Peter; Nicholas (Sara) Boyce and their children, Nolan and Claire; stepson Rolf (Ingrid) Berger and their children Nadine Burger, Christine (Christian) Kragora and their daughters, Raphaela and Sabrina; Tanja and Andreas Kogl and their children Kevin and Giulia; and her sister-in-law, Leonie Dufrane. Nelly was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ralph in 2000; brother, Pauling Dufrane; son-in-law, Tom Boyce; and great granddaughter, Dakota Rasmussen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Nelly on Friday, September 8, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in St. Jude Parish, St. Vincent Catholic Church, (corner of Oregon St. and South Park Ave.) with the Rev. Matt Simonar as celebrant. A time of visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Nelly was loved by many and will be missed by all who knew her. "Here's one last noisy kiss for you, Grandma." Memorials in her name may be made to the charity of one's choice.