Hays, Kansas – Joseph C. Berger, age 90, died Sunday, August 14, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Society of Hays. He was born April 10, 1926, in Kansas City, Missouri to Peter and Caroline (Augustine) Berger. He married Eleanor A. (Lang) on May 24, 1947, in Great Bend, Kansas. She died August 30, 2013.

He was a oil field pumper most of his life and retired from Phillips Petroleum Company in 1986.

He was a WW II veteran of the US Marine Corps and served in the South Pacific and Japan. Joe was a member of Immaculate Heat of Mary Catholic Church, the Schoenchen Council #4166 -3rd Degree Knights of Columbus and a life member of the Hays V.F.W. Post #9076 and Hays American Legion. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, building lawn furniture, his vegetable gardening and spending time with his family.

Survivors include two sons, Joseph Berger Jr. and wife, Colette, Inman, KS; Dennis Berger, Hays, KS; two daughters; Judy Weigel and husband, Bob, Hays, KS; Connie Schmidt and husband, Melvin, Victoria, KS; six grandchildren, Mike Berger and wife, Christie; Ryan Berger and wife, Allison; Justin Weigel; Trina Proberts and husband, Kevin; Miranda Ashbaugh; Jaclyn Schmidt; 10 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, one son, Kenneth Berger in 1973 and an infant grandson, Joseph Berger III; one brother, Carl and his wife Eloise.

Services are 10:30 A.M. Thursday, August 18, 2016, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church 18th & Vine street Hays, Kansas. Burial in St. Joseph Cemetery Hays, Kansas with military honors by the Hays V.F.W. Post No. 9076.

A vigil service will be at 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:30 P.M. Wednesday, both at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Visitation is from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday and from 9:00 to 10:15 A.M. Thursday, all at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays. Memorial to Good Samaritan Society of Hays or Hospice of Hays Medical Center.

Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or via e-mail to [email protected].