Fred Louis Berlinger

Fred was the loving husband of Shirley (nee' Clausen) for 39 years. After Shirley passed, Fred married Joan Mason, who preceded him in death. Fred married Dorothy "Dot" Jorcke later in life and she also preceded him in death. Fred was the beloved father of Scott (Christine) Berlinger, Kris Bryant, Todd Berlinger, Amie (Karl) Forest, and Andrew (Nancy) Berlinger; dear former father-in-law of Tim Bryant and Jo Marie Berlinger; cherished grandfather of Katie (Jason) Crecelius, Michael Berlinger, Max Bryant, Sam (Molly) Bryant, Annalise (John) Cannon, Joseph Berlinger, Teal (Kelsey) Forest, and Sienna Forest; dear great-grandfather of Susan "Zuzu" Bryant, Olivia "Lou" Bryant, Reagan Crecelius, and Magnolia Cannon; dear sister of the late Shirley (the late Wayne) Kinman; dear uncle, great-uncle, cousin, and a friend to many in his long lifetime.

Fred Louis Berlinger was a Roosevelt High School Rough Rider and received a degree in mechanical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. Upon completion of college, he was sent to Officer Training School at Cornell University. In World War II he served as an Ensign J.G. at Pearl Harbor, after the attack. His duties included service on a ship that towed a barge in the ocean for long-range target practice by day and arranging luaus for servicemen sent to Hawaii for R&R by night.

When he returned home, he initially took a job as a Safety Engineer in Kansas City, Missouri before his father asked him to come home and run Berlinger Dairy with him. That business began in St. Louis in 1888. It was founded by Fred’s grandfather, Balthazar Berlinger, who had cows in his backyard and sold milk over a counter in his living room. Fred and his father built the dairy building that still stands at 2023 Cherokee Street. After his father’s death, Fred ran the business by himself until his son Todd joined him in 1972 upon his graduation from high school. After Fred retired in 1986, Todd ran the business until it closed in 2006 - after 118 continuous years in business.

Fred was married to Shirley Berlinger for 39 years and they were active members of Annunciation Parish in Webster Groves, Missouri. He was a 60+ year member of the Webster Groves chapter of the Knights of Columbus. A good athlete, he played 1st base on the K of C baseball team. He also loved to dance and organized many K of C New Year’s Eve parties. After his wife Shirley passed away in 1987, he married Joan Mason Berlinger. On Joan’s passing in 2007, he married Dorothy Jorcke Berlinger, who predeceased him in 2018. He was a loving Dad to his children and “Bokaw” to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren from all three of those unions.

A visitation will be held Thursday, June 2 from 4 to 7:30pm at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary, 6464 Chippewa 63109, with a tribute from the Knights of Columbus to follow. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, June 3, at 11am at Saint Catherine Laboure Catholic Church, 9740 Sappington Road 63128. Rite of Committal with Military Honors at Resurrection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Fred's memory to Cardinal Ritter Senior Services, The American Heart Association, or The Alzheimer's Association would be greatly appreciated by his family.

Please leave a fond memory of Fred for his family to cherish at the "Add a Memory" link below.