LEONARD V. BERG, age 89, of Rochelle, died on Friday, April 18, 2008 at the Rochelle Community Hospital. He was born December 24, 1918, in Rochelle, Illinois, to Oscar T.D. and Ada Jane
(Eames) Berg. Leonard was raised on a farm near Lee, Illinois, being the youngest of
fourteen children. He attended Steward and Lee Schools.
Leonard entered the U.S. Army in 1942 and served the United States during
WWII in the Mediterranean Theater in Sicily, Italy and Africa under General Mark
Clark, and in the European Theater in the G2 Section (Intelligence Division) of the 5th
Army Headquarters. He was commissioned the rank of captain, and was honorably
discharged in December, 1949.
Leonard married the former Josephine Lucille Drummond, July 26, 1941, who
preceded him in death on November 27, 2000. Survivors include a daughter, Charlene K.
Berg (husband; Dewey Risenhoover), of Door County, WI, a son. Dr. James D. Berg and
two granddaughters. Lisa C. and Julia J. Berg, of Oslo, Norway. He was also predeceased
by a daughter, Cheryl Lynn.
Leonard was president of Berg Electric, which he founded in 1949, and had held
various positions in the electrical industry since 1938. In 1962 he founded Berg Electric
Batavia, Inc., and in 1966 he became a partner in Nu-Ag, another Rochelle industry.
Leonard was a member of the American Council Industrial Laboratories, Cleveland,
Ohio, and served on the board of directors of the Rock River Valley Electric Association.
He was a director and charter member of the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce. Leonard
was a member of the United Methodist Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the
Royal Order of Moose. He was a member of the Rochelle city council, serving as
commissioner of public property from 1955 through 1959. Leonard was listed in the 12th
edition (1970-71) of Who's Who in the Midwest, a compilation of notable people who
have distinguished themselves with achievements in a field that affects the development
of the Midwestern United States.
A private family graveside military service will be held at the Union Cemetery in Steward with the V.F.W. Post 3878.
Cremation services were provided by Unger-Homer Funeral Home.
In lieu of Flowers, Memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.