Dennis Berge

Dennis Berge, 76, of Atlantic, Iowa, died Monday, November 20, 2023, at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Dennis Eugene was born on November 28, 1946, in Atlantic, Iowa, the son of Frank George and Dessie Pearl (Harter) Berge.  He grew up in Lewis and was always on the go fishing or playing a pick-up game of baseball or basketball.  His love of fishing and sports in his youth carried with him throughout his life.  Dennis was active in Boy Scouts and also the Big Time Rebels roller skating club at Platime Roller Rink in Atlantic.  He attended school in Lewis and graduated from Griswold High School in the Class of 1966. 

Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served on flight deck of the USS Hornet during Vietnam. Dennis was very proud of his time in the service and shared with his family his memories.  The comradery he had with his shipmates developed into lifelong friendships. 

After returning from the service, he entered into partnership with his brother for 11 years owning and operating Phillips 66 stations in the Omaha area.  He later moved back to Cass County and opened Wiota Food and Fuel, where he gained a lot of wonderful friendships.  Prior to retirement he worked as a janitor at Cass County Memorial Hospital for ten years.  Farming was also a big part of this life; he grew crops, raised livestock and baled hay on the acreage.   

On June 17, 1972, he was united in marriage to Linda Rae Hansen at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic.  The couple looked forward to the time they spent together at Iowa State Football games, which they had season tickets for, the Iowa State Fair, the Good Guys Car Show, and getting together with friends and neighbors for Pinochle card parties.  The couple was blessed with three children, Nick, Kim and Jill who looked forward to the simple trips they took through the years. 

Sports, he couldn't get enough of them! From collecting countless cards through the years to watching them in person and on TV, he was a sports fanatic; the Iowa State Cyclones, Green Bay Packers, LA Lakers, and LA Dodgers were his teams.  In recent years he enjoyed listening to local and surrounding sporting event broadcasts.   

Dennis was a simple man…he was a family man, and appreciated the simple things in life!  He loved to laugh, kid around and tell stories.  Time spent with his grandchildren brought him great joy and he looked forward to watching them in their various sporting events, and took any chance he could to get some coaching in. 

Dennis is survived by his wife, Linda; children, Nick Berge, Kim (Brett) Williams and Jill (Justin) Miller; grandchildren, Alex, Sophie and Claire Williams and Owen and Macy Miller; siblings, Carol (Kim Thompson) Wright and Fred Berge; brothers-in-law, Charles Namanny and Raymond Hansen; and sisters-in-law, Linda South and Michelle Hadley.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank Berge and Dessie Hansen; brother, Charles South; sister, Janice Namanny; brother-in-law, Pete Hadley; sister-in-law, Jane Berge; nephews, Brian Wright, Terry Woolsey and Chad Thompson; and great-nephew, Brent Woolsey.

Visitation with the family present will be held from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday, November 27th at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 28^th (Dennis’ 77^th Birthday) at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic. To honor Dennis’ service to his country military honors will be given by the Atlantic Color Guard.   Burial will be at a later date in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Dennis' family and his arrangements.  Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.