Dorothy Berg's Obituary
Dorothy Ann (Kaase) Berg passed away on November 25, 2020, in Longview, Texas almost a week after celebrating her 102nd birthday. Born November 19, 1918 to Charles and Leona (Richter) Kaase in Austin, Texas, she entered this world eight days after the signing of the Armistice ending World War I.
Dorothy grew up in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Austin with her younger siblings, Jane (Kaase) Nixon and Roy Kaase, graduating from Austin High School in 1936. She was a member of the Red Jackets drill team, the tennis team and the German Club. In her youth, Dorothy enjoyed Saturday hikes to Mt. Bonnell in west Austin with her Girl Scout friends; climbing up to the very top of the Texas state capitol rotunda on the tiny catwalk beneath the Goddess of Liberty; and inner tubing down the Comal River way before Schlitterbahn came along. Despite her quiet demeanor, she was not fearful! Dorothy was also a great game-player. She enjoyed playing dominoes and card games with friends and family, and was expert at sandbagging her opponents by coming in from behind for the win.
The Kaases were faithful life-long members of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church where Dorothy was baptized as an infant, confirmed and married by the same pastor. She lived her faith every day of her life and instilled the same beliefs into her children. One friend, Hilda Berg, introduced Dorothy to her brother, Charles Berg, in 1938 and they were married for sixty years before his death in 2000. They welcomed three daughters into their family, Carolyn, Judy and Betty, however, Judy passed away at the age of seven during heart surgery to remove an aneurysm.
The family moved to Houston in 1958 for Charles to take a position with the Houston Chronicle. Dorothy accepted employment as assistant to the head of cytology at M.D. Anderson hospital and thoroughly enjoyed her eight years working in that department. In 1967, the Longview-News brought Charles to Longview as advertising director. They quickly became active in the community with the Lions Club and First Lutheran Church. Dorothy was a member of the Lions Auxiliary, the Chrysanthemum Club, and a Girl Scout leader. As an expert seamstress, she began to explore her new love of quilting by becoming a charter member of Piney Woods Quilters. She took great pleasure in stitching many quilts for veterans in nursing homes The Quilters at First Lutheran make quilts for Lutheran World Relief, and she faithfully served with them until last year. Dorothy was also title clerk at Pegues-Hurst Motor Co. for twenty years before retiring in 1990. After retiring, Dorothy and Charles bought an RV and joined a club that took them on interesting jaunts all over the country. She has made so many friends through her kind and loving spirit and will definitely be missed by all those who loved her. Thank you to Highland Park Home Health Care for sending such excellent care providers, particularly Lisca and Janet, who helped give her a better quality of life through therapy and loving care.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles; daughter, Judy; son-in-law, Joe Ramirez; sister, Jane (Dave) Nixon; her brother, Roy (Marilyn) Kaase; sister-in-law, Hilda Berg; brother-in-law, Richard (Doris) Berg; brother-in-law, Thomas (Nancy) Berg; brother-in-law Harold (Margaret) Berg; niece, Janet (Berg) Wade; and nephew, Randy Kaase.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Carolyn Ramirez and Betty (Bob) Rodgers; grandson, Jeff Buehring; grandson, Scott (Crystal) Rodgers; granddaughter, Michele (Scott) Simpson; great-grandchildren, Sabrina (Sean) Stopka, Hunter Rodgers, Ethan Rodgers, Shawn Simpson and Steven Simpson and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be on Thursday, December 3, from 4 until 6 pm at Rader Funeral Home. Service will be Friday, December 4, 2020 at 2 pm at First Lutheran Church. Her grandsons and nephews will serve as her pall bearers.
The family requests no flowers. If desired, memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, 3901 Bill Owens Parkway, Longview, TX 75605.
Service will be live stream on www.facebook.com/firstlutheranlongview and https://www.firstlutheran.us/
What’s your fondest memory of Dorothy?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dorothy?
Share a story where Dorothy's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dorothy you’ll never forget.
How did Dorothy make you smile?
