Elysburg - Reverend (Colonel) Robert F. Berger, KHS, died at his family home on December 14, 2020.  He was a priest of the Diocese of Harrisburg.  He was born Aug 30, 1935 in Locust Gap, the son of the late George Francis and Josephine (Heiser) Berger.

He graduated from St Charles College, Catonsville, MD in 1956, and from St Charles Seminary, Overbrook, PA and was ordained on May 19, 1962 by the Most Reverend George Leach.

Throughout his priesthood his various parish assignments in the diocese were as assistant pastor at Good Shepherd, Camp Hill; St Mary's, Lebanon; St Francis Xavier, Gettysburg and pastor at Mary, Gate of Heaven, Myerstown.  He entered the Pennsylvania National Guard and then served on active duty as a chaplain from 1967 to 1993.  In January 1993, he was appointed pastor of Mary, Gate of Heaven Parish until his retirement on January 31, 2017.

Father Berger was an avid reader who did extensive research for the more than 600 thought-provoking sermons he printed and filed for future use.  He founded the WW II Chaplains Memorial Foundation to bring attention to the important roles of chaplains and to preserve their stories, artifacts and photos, including being involved in the effort to have Chaplain Ignatius Maternowski promoted to sainthood for his selfless actions on D-Day, June 6, 1944

While in the Chaplain Corps he advanced from the rank of Lieutenant to that of Colonel.  He served at Fort Bragg and Vietnam with 173 ^rd Airborne Brigade, in Korea with the 2 ^nd Infantry Division and in Germany with the 3 ^rd Infantry Division; at Fort Benning and Fort Bliss and was Post Chaplain at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Stewart.  His military awards include:  Bronze star (2ndOLC), Meritorious Service Medal (6thOLC), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2ndOLC), Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Unit Citation of the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.  He is a life member to the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Member of the Knights of Columbus, 4 ^th Degree.  Selected as Knight of the Year, Mary Gate of Heaven and State Exemplification Honoree 2016.  He is a graduate of Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth.

Father Berger earned three Master's Degrees, one in Psychology and two in Theology and wrote training manuals for the first class of permanent deacons in the diocese and another for marital counseling.  He was given the ecclesiastical honor of Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre (KHS) in Jerusalem by Cardinal Edwin O'Brien.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George Francis and Josephine, his sister, Sister Patricia Ann and nephew, Robert Christian.  He is survived by his sister, Kathleen Ferdock of Bloomsburg and brother Francis of Elysburg, and many nieces and nephews.

FUNERAL NOTICE

Reverend (Colonel) Robert F. Berger, KHS, Elysburg - Mass of Transferal will be offered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, 47 S. Market St., Mt. Carmel, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 with Very Reverend Jonathan P. Sawicki, VF, as celebrant. Father will be present at the church from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. for private prayer, a rosary will be said at 6 p.m. for Father's repose followed by Mass at 7 p.m. After mass Father will remain for private prayer until 9:00 pm. Funeral Mass, a Latin High Mass, will be celebrated by invitation only at the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Elysburg on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. with burial following at All Saints Cemetery in Elysburg. Live streaming of both services will be available through the YouTube link for Father Frank Karwacki's page at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt-u-DeduO_YKu_DE-M4-Ig?view_as=subscriber Father Bob's Mass will be listed 10 minutes prior to start time under current Masses or by logging into youtube.com and searching Rev. Robert F. Berger 10 minutes prior to service. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Father Berger's name may be sent to Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Monastery, 430 Monastery Rd., Elysburg, PA 17824 or the WWII Chaplains Memorial Foundation, PO Box 67, Elysburg, PA 17824. Arrangements are in care of C. J. Lucas Funeral Home Inc., 27 N. Vine St., Mt. Carmel, C. J. Lucas IV, Supervisor.

Livestream Link for December 29th at 5:00 p.m. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QabXUJHeeWc

Livestream Link for December 30th at 10:30 a.m. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6PWd4gjQps

Livestream Link for December 30th Burial with Military Honors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHp5JlXi7qc