John J. Berg

John J. Berg, 73, of Green Valley, AZ, formerly of Kimball, NE and Greeley, CO, died on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson. John was born on Sept 10, 1942 in Wilkinsburg, PA to Jacob and Helen (Fails) Berg.

He attended school in Penn Hills, PA, and graduated from Penn Hills High School in 1960. He obtained a two year degree from Point Park Junior College in Pittsburgh and then graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1965. He enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a corpsman for the Marines in the Vietnam conflict. He and Carolyn Budz were married on May 4, 1968. They lived in Franklin, PA, and Trinidad, CO.

John began working for Allnutt Funeral Service in 1977 in Greeley, CO and also operated Cantrell Funeral home in Kimball, NE, before retiring to Green Valley, AZ. He served in the funeral business with the Allnutt family for nearly 40 years. He was the ultimate funeral director, sharing his knowledge and teaching other funeral directors the best practices and skills of the funeral industry, and always did it with passion and a wonderful sense of humor.

John was a member of the Colorado Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. He served on the NFDA Convention Programming Work Group, NFDA Member Resources Advisory Group, NFDA Professional Conduct Committee and NFDA Professional Development Committee. He was an NFDA Past District Governor and Heritage Club Member. John also served as president of the Colorado Funeral Directors Association in 1986. He was awarded the CFDA Mentor Award in 1999, served on the advisory board of the Colorado Funeral Service Board, and on the CFDA Board of Directors and each office of the state association, up to President.

He was a member of the Pennsylvania and Colorado Jaycees. In Colorado he was State Secretary to the Colorado Jaycees. He earned the highest awards honored to a Jaycee – a Senatorship, earned while a Pennsylvania Jaycee, and a Jaycee Ambassador. John is a member of St. Francis in the Valley Episcopal Church in Green Valley, AZ and Trinity Episcopal Church while in Greeley. He was also a member of Centennial Rotary in Greeley. He enjoyed taking an active part in the organizations and churches that he belonged to. John enjoyed traveling, spending time with family and friends and the beauty and wildlife of the Arizona desert.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn of Green Valley; daughters, Jennifer Brownlee and fiancée Geoff Gaebe of Santee CA; Jessica (Andy) Laws of Gering, NE; sister, Jayne (Howard) Evans of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; brother, Philip Berg of Clintonville, PA; brother-in-law, Robert (Marion) Budz of Littleton, CO; sister-in-law, Pat (Tom) Bassetti of Sarver, PA and 5 grandchildren, Brandon, Kyla, Tabor, Annalee (Brandon) and Jerilyn.

A visitation will be held at the Allnutt Macy Chapel, Greeley, CO, on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Visitation in Kimball will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday., Sept. 21, 2016 at Cantrell Funeral Home, Kimball, NE. Funeral services for John will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept 22, 2016 at the Cantrell Funeral Home. Reverend Christine Plantz will officiate. Burial will be in Kimball Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Francis in the Valley Episcopal Church, 600 S. La Canada Ave, Green Valley, AZ 85614, to the USO or to a charity of the donor’s choice in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th St., Greeley, CO 80631. Friends may view the online obituary and send condolences at www.allnutt.com.