Wayne Douglas Berenger

2020 after a courageous battle with leukemia. Loving life partner to Teresa Santiago,

and adoring father to Todd Ryan Berenger, Laura Michelle Berenger, and Christina

Mary Berenger, Wayne was preceded in death by his parents Opal Loe and Vernon

Kaarup, and cherished brother, Steven Berenger. Wayne is the dear brother of Randy

Berenger and Duane Berenger, and grandfather to Octaviano and Gabriella Berenger,

and Cole and Micah Cherkasky. Wayne is also survived by his constant companion,

Buddy, his dog.

Wayne was a son of the Great Plains and the Midwest. He grew up in Viborg, South

Dakota and Mediapolis, Iowa where he knew hard work and hardships, and the art of

resilience. He was well-versed in horses, fields of corn, and high school football. This

is also where he first received the attention of talented musical mentors who fostered

his life-long passion for music. Wayne’s mother recalled that he was drumming on

cardboard boxes by the age of three, and started playing professional music gigs by

age thirteen. Marching band, pep band, big band, country western, swing, classical,

and jazz; Wayne could play with any group with impeccable style. Later in life he

became a mentor and teacher to other drummers. He was a voice of optimism and

encouragement to his students. Wayne believed in the power of music to help people

heal, transcend difficulties, receive inspiration, and build community. He played a joyful

noise so that others also felt joy.

Wayne was a member of All Saints Lutheran Church in Phoenix where he is

remembered as a wonderfully talented percussionist who enhanced the worship,

playing for two services most Sundays. He offered individual drum lessons, taught arts

camp percussion classes, and assisted in the preschool where he was sometimes

referred to as the “baby whisperer.” He was often the only one who could get a little

one to stop crying with his peaceful voice and defining kindness. Many in the

congregation remember his humor and wit, his winning smile, his firm handshake, and

his support of others. Wayne would often arrive early before worship to greet people

and visit with them as they entered the sanctuary.

Wayne loved golf, and was a good and gentlemanly player. Much of the appeal of the

game for him was in the opportunity it afforded to meet new people, and spend hours

with family and friends he cherished. No cell phones and no intrusions on the course

meant that a good walk on the beautiful fairways was time spent connecting with

people in a very authentic way.

Connecting with other people and their stories was Wayne’s guiding principle in life.

He possessed a genuine and generous curiosity about others. He would say, “If you

know their story, you know their loves. If you know their loves, you know their story.”

And he believed that a connection and warm regard among imperfect and loving

people was the point of life. He knew the names of the baristas at Starbucks and the

clerks at the grocery store, he acknowledged kindnesses and friendships with

handwritten cards, he gave small gifts to his doctors, thanking them for their care.

One of Wayne’s favorite quotes was from Maya Angelou, “People will forget

what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you

made them feel.” Wayne loved brightening the days of everyone he met. His love and

light will be missed.

A service and celebration of Wayne’s life will be held in the second half of 2021.

UPDATE

The current arrangements for a Memorial Service and Concert are:

Sunday, Oct 3 2021

6:30 pm

All Saints Lutheran Church

15649 N 7th Street

Phoenix, AZ 85022

A Facebook link is available for any family and friends unable to join us in person.

https://fb.me/e/19pwWWH8C