CDR. John W. Berger

“Chaplain John, It’s time to come home”.

Following a mortal lifetime of service to the Lord, John Wellons Berger, known affectionately by many as Chaplain John, left this earth from his home in San Jose to be with his Lord on July 12, 2015. Chaplain John W. Berger, CDR, ChC, US Navy (ret), would tell you he was just a simple country preacher but the body of work that was his life would speak otherwise.

Born in Mt. Shasta on August 6, 1920, to Gideon Gottlieb Berger and Georgiana Wellons Berger, John attended school in California towns where his father served as a Methodist pastor. An Army veteran of the Second World War (1944-1946), John later graduated from Stanford University and the Pacific School of Religion. Ordained in the Methodist Church, John went on the serve as an active duty Navy Chaplain for 30 years.

The recipient of numerous medals and Navy Commendations, platitudes humbly received, Chaplain John’s fondest memories of his time in the service were also many of the things that served to define who he was. John spoke fondly of his time working with returning POWs during the Korean conflict, and the time he spent ministering to those who has suffered so during captivity. Little did he know that this time in his career would come to serve him well later on. After serving both at sea and in country during the Vietnam conflict, John moved on to a tour at NAS Moffitt Field where he developed a ministry serving the wives and families of POWs and MIAs that would become a model for the US Navy in later years.

Following his retirement from the Navy, John went on to serve congregations in Stockton, Soledad, and Williams in California.

Although officially retired from active service in the Navy and in the Methodist Church, John never really did retire from active service to the Lord and to all who crossed his path. John continued his service with the Civil Air Patrol, San Jose Police Department Chaplains, Correctional Institute of California Chaplains among others. In addition, for 18 years John held Chapel Services aboard the USS Hornet Museum docked at the former NAS Alameda.

Chaplain John wasn’t simply a Minister, a Pastor, a Chaplain; John was, first and foremost, a servant. An accomplished pianist and vocalist John used the talents the Lord had given to reach out to any and all he met. From hymn sessions at churches, to songs with the Kids at Vacation Bible School to belting out the National Anthem at Baseball games in San Jose with the Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive organization at 90 years young, John had a knack of being able to connect with people. A knack so prevalent it led to one of his peers to proclaim him “the country boy from Stanford.” A proclamation John would be proud of, for he was, after all, just a “simple country preacher”.

Chaplain John is leaving a lasting legacy on this earth, one of faith, one of love, one of compassion, and one of simple service to the Lord and to his fellow man. A legacy that shows just how much of an impact one man can have.

Chaplain John may God Bless you and keep you, may God lift his countenance upon you and may He welcome you with open arms. You have left this earth a much better place for having passed this way.

John is survived by His wife, Gladys Ione Ingraham Moser Berger of San Jose, Sister, Sue Shinn of Lodi

Sons, Keith Berger (Laura Santigian) of Sacramento and Ted Berger (Christy) of St. Louis

Daughters, Suzanne Tipton (Phillip) of Atlanta and Rebecca Hughes of Lodi

10 grandchildren

7 great-grandchildren

Nieces Kathy Allen, Stephanie Berger

Nephew Wesley Shinn

Funeral Services will be observed Tuesday, July 21st, at 1:00 PM at the Willow Glen Funeral Home located at 1039 Lincoln Avenue in San Jose. There will be a viewing prior from 11 AM to 12:30 PM. Bill Chrystal who was mentored by Chaplain Berger over 30 years ago will conduct the service. Memories can be shared online at http://www.dignitymemorial.com/willow-glen-funeral-home/en-us/index.page

There will be a private internment for the family at Lodi Memorial Cemetery on Wednesday, July 22nd.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the USS Hornet Museum (www.uss-hornet.org), Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive (www.spiritof45.org), Hospice of the Valley (www.hospicevalley.org), your local POW/MIA education organization, or any organization supporting the Veterans of the United States.