Lois Ardel Berg

Born Aug. 2, 1924, in Battle Creek, IA, to Albert Otto and Cecile P. (Neal) Buenz, Lois was married to Ben C. Berg Jr., M.D., on Sept. 7, 1947. After 64 years of marriage, Ben preceded her in death on June 12, 2011.

Surviving are four children, Sandra Wheeler of Mesa, Nancy Dunker of Plainfield, IL, R. Scott Berg of Jacksonville, FL, and Betsy Berg of Dallas; seven grandchildren, Wendy Ostrowski, Amanda Kershaw, Brent Berg, Dawn Sandoval, Eric Dunker, Alexander Berg and Justin Berg; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Lois grew up in Kansas City, MO, before moving with her family to Phillips, TX. She graduated from Dumas High School in Dumas, TX, in 1941 and moved to Newton, IA. There she was a member of the Eastern Star of Rainbow Girls and served as a Worthy Advisor. Lois was the bookkeeper for Buenz Motors and Ardel Electric appliance store, companies owned by her father A. O. Buenz in Newton.

On weekends during WWII, she volunteered as a Candy Striper and nurses aid at the hospital in Newton. After her marriage to Ben in 1947, they moved to Iowa City where Ben attended and graduated from medical school at the University of Iowa.

In 1951, they moved to Youngstown, OH, and later to Poland, OH. Lois was a Brownie and Senior Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout leader, and worked as cashier at Poland Union Elementary School.

In 1970, the family moved to Peoria, where Lois lived until 2020. In Peoria, she served as chairperson of Christian Women’s Club in the late 1970s and board member of South Side Mission for 20 years. She was involved in Community Bible Study and Peoria Medical Auxiliary and volunteered with Meals on Wheels and in various ministries at her churches. Lois was a member of Northwoods Community Church and Grace Presbyterian Church and attended Bethany Baptist Church.

Services will be private. Burial will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria. Memorials may be made to South Side Mission in Peoria.